Compositions and methods for oxalate reduction

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises methods and compositions for the reduction of oxalate in humans. For example, the invention provides methods and compositions for the delivery of one or more oxalate-reducing enzymes embedded in particle compositions. The compositions of the present invention are suitable in methods of treatment or prevention of oxalate-related conditions including, but not limited to, hyperoxaluria, absorptive hyperoxaluria, enteric hyperoxaluria, primary hyperoxaluria, idiopathic calcium oxalate kidney stone disease (urolithiasis), vulvodynia, oxalosis associated with end-stage renal disease, cardiac conductance disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn&#39;s disease, ulcerative colitis, and patients who have undergone gastrointestinal surgery and bariatric surgery (surgery for obesity), and/or who have undergone antibiotic treatment.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/750,896, filed Dec. 16, 2005, which is hereinincorporated in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a composition comprising one or moreoxalate degrading enzymes for delivering the enzymes in active form tothe stomach, where the one or more oxalate degrading enzymes exert theireffect. Thus, the present invention provides means for reducing oxalatein the stomach. A composition of the invention comprises particlescomprising one or more oxalate degrading enzymes embedded in a firstpolymeric material, wherein the embedded enzyme retains at least twotimes the activity of the one or more non-embedded free enzymes obtainedfrom the same batch upon incubation in USP simulated gastric juice at37° C. for at least 60 min under similar conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Kidney/urinary tract stone disease (urolithiasis) is a major healthproblem throughout the world. Most of the stones associated withurolithiasis are composed of calcium oxalate alone or calcium oxalateplus calcium phosphate. Other disease states have also been associatedwith excess oxalate. These include, vulvodynia, oxalosis associated withend-stage renal disease, cardiac conductance disorders, Crohns'sdisease, and other enteric disease states.

Oxalic acid, and/or its salts, oxalate, is found in a wide variety offoods, and is therefore, a component of many constituents in human andanimal diets. Increased oxalate absorption may occur after foodscontaining elevated amounts of oxalic acid are eaten. Foods such asspinach and rhubarb are well known to contain high amounts of oxalate,but a multitude of other foods and beverages also contain oxalate.Because oxalate is found in such a wide variety of foods, diets that arelow in oxalate and which are also palatable are hard to formulate. Inaddition, compliance with a low oxalate diet is often problematic.

The risk for formation of kidney stones revolves around a number offactors that are not yet completely understood. Kidney or urinary tractstone disease occurs in as many as 12% of the population in Westerncountries and about 70% of these stones are composed of calcium oxalateor of calcium oxalate plus calcium phosphate. Some individuals (e.g.patients with intestinal disease such as Crohn's disease, inflammatorybowel disease, or steatorrhea and also patients that have undergonejejunoileal bypass surgery) absorb more of the oxalate in their dietsthan do others. For these individuals, the incidence of oxalateurolithiasis increases markedly. The increased disease incidence is dueto increased levels of oxalate in kidneys and urine, and this, the mostcommon hyperoxaluric syndrome in humans, is known as enterichyperoxaluria. Oxalate is also a problem in patients with end-stagerenal disease and there is recent evidence that elevated urinary oxalateis also involved in vulvar vestibulitis (vulvodynia).

Enteric coated compositions comprising oxalate degrading bacteria havebeen suggested for reducing oxalate concentrations. However, entericcoated compositions pass through the stomach in intact form, i.e. thecoating is intact and accordingly, no oxalate can be degraded in thestomach. Accordingly, there is still a need for developing compositionsthat enable degradation of oxalate already in the stomach in order todegrade especially dietary oxalate. Moreover, such compositions aresuitable for use in the treatment of enteric and absorptivehyperoxalurias such as hyperoxalurias causing recurrent stone disease.The objective with such a treatment is for the patients to have normalurinary oxalate levels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises compositions and methods for treatingand preventing oxalate-related conditions. Compositions of the presentinvention comprise enzymes that reduce oxalate. Methods of the presentinvention comprise administering the compositions to treat or preventoxalate-related conditions, and methods for making and using suchcompositions. Compositions of the present invention reduce oxalate undergastric conditions, such as low pH and in the presence of proteases.Composition of the present invention reduce oxalate in the stomach ofhumans and other animals. Compositions reduce non-systemic oxalate, e.g.oxalate in the gastrointestinal tract, notably in the stomach, andpreventing exogenous oxalate (e.g. from food) from entering the systemiccirculation.

A composition according to the present invention comprises particlescomprising one or more enzymes embedded in a first polymeric material,wherein the embedded enzymes retain at least two times the activity ofthe one or more non-embedded enzymes from the same batch, afterincubation of both the embedded and the non-embedded (free) enzymes insimulated gastric fluid (84 mM HCl and 3.2 mg/ml pepsin at pH rangingfrom 1.0 to 4.0) at 37° C. for at least 60 minutes. Compositionscomprise particles that may further be coated with a second polymericmaterial.

Compositions may also comprise polymeric materials that may becross-linked, and optionally, the cross-links may be reduced. Inspecific embodiments, the first polymeric material is chitosan,alginate, pectin or hyaluronic acid. In addition to the one or moreenzymes and the first polymeric material, the particle compositions mayalso contain one or more additives such as, e.g., pH adjusting agents,buffering agents, solubilizing agents, stabilizers, preservatives,cofactors for the enzymes or one or more pharmaceutically acceptableexcipients such as, e.g. fillers, diluents, carriers or the like.

Methods of the present invention comprise providing compositions fornon-systemic treatment, for example, providing a composition thatenables reducing oxalate in the stomach to avoid the absorption ofoxalate from the gastrointestinal tract. The composition protects theoxalate-reducing enzymes embedded therein from the acidic andenzyme-damaging environment in the stomach, and maintains the enzymaticactivity in such a harsh environment. Methods of treatment andprevention comprise providing the compositions taught herein in whichone or more oxalate degrading enzyme are embedded in a first polymericmaterial, optionally coating the obtained particles with a secondpolymeric material, optionally cross-linking the first and/or secondpolymeric material and optionally reducing the cross-linkages.

The compositions of the present invention are suitable in methods oftreatment or prevention of oxalate-related conditions including, but notlimited to, hyperoxaluria, absorptive hyperoxaluria, enterichyperoxaluria, primary hyperoxaluria, idiopathic calcium oxalate kidneystone disease (urolithiasis), vulvodynia, oxalosis associated withend-stage renal disease, cardiac conductance disorders, inflammatorybowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and patients whohave undergone gastrointestinal surgery and bariatric surgery (surgeryfor obesity), and/or who have undergone antibiotic treatment. A methodof treatment or prevention comprises orally administering to a subject acomposition of the present invention, in an effective amount, to reducethe oxalate in the stomach of the subject, and thus reduce the overalloxalate burden of the subject in an efficient and effective manner. Suchcompositions are pharmaceutically acceptable for oral administration.

Enzymes used in the compositions and methods of the present inventionare oxalate reducing enzymes, and include, but are not limited to,oxalate oxidase, oxalate decarboxylase (in the present contextabbreviated OxDc), oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase, or formyl-CoA transferase,or combinations thereof. Moreover, other enzymes, cofactors andco-enzymes that are substituents of oxalate degradation pathways orinvolved in oxalate metabolic pathways, particularly oxalate reduction,are also of relevance alone or in combination with one or more of theoxalate reducing enzymes. In the present invention, not only the enzymes(proteins) are encompassed by this definition, but also polynucleotidesequences that encode oxalate-reducing genes and proteins arecontemplated by the present invention. The present invention alsocontemplates any binding partners of these enzymes and includesantibodies and antibody fragments that bind to or interact with theenzymes.

The enzymes may be derived by isolation from organisms, they may bepurified, they may be made synthetically, semi-synthetically or byrecombinant means, or they may be used as a cell lysate. The enzymesused in the compositions may be purified recombinant protein, but sincethe enzymes can also be made in certain bacteria that are safe, it isalso contemplated to use those bacteria as whole cells or as lysate. Theoxalate-degrading enzyme is normally present in a composition of theinvention in an amount that is sufficient to degrade substantially alloxalate normally present in a standard meal. Depending on the foodchoices, an average Western diet can contain 100 to 300 mg ofoxalate/day. In general, about 0.2 g of the particles comprising enzyme(equal to 20 mg of OxDc in 1 mL of suspension of particles) can remove180 mg oxalate in simulated gastric conditions within 30 min.

One aspect the present invention comprises a composition comprisingparticles comprising one or more oxalate degrading enzymes embedded in afirst polymeric material, wherein the embedded enzyme retains at leasttwo times the activity of the one or more non-embedded free enzymes,obtained from the same batch, upon incubation in USP simulated gastricjuice containing 84 mM HCl and 3.2 mg/ml pepsin at pH>1, e.g. in a rangeof pH about 1 to pH about 5, such as, e.g., from pH about 2 to pH about5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about 4.5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about 3.5such as pH about 3 at 37° C. for at least 60 minutes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the stability of OxDc in microparticles I(prepared at pH 3.9) and in microparticles II (prepared at pH 8) underpH 3 with pepsin.

FIG. 2 is a graph which shows the effects of alginate concentration forforming alginate microparticles on the stability of OxDc in the chitosancoated OxDc alginate microparticles at pH 3 with pepsin.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing particle size distribution of particlesprepared according to Example 2 herein. FIG. 3. The volume statistics(Arithmetic) 17795s3_(—)07_(—)01.$1s. Calculations from 0.040 μm to 2000μm. Volume: 100%; Mean: 48.53 μm; Median: 29.10 μm; Mean/Median ratio:1.668; Mode: 28.70 μm; S.D.: 65.43 μm; C.V. 135%; Skewness: 4.384 Rightskewed; Kurtosis 26.90 Leptokurtic; d₁₀ 8.814 μm; d₅₀ 29.10 μm; d₉₀109.9 μm.

FIG. 4 is a graph which shows the effects of coating with alginate orcarrageenen on the stability of OxDC in chitosan/TPP nanoparticles at pH3 with pepsin.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the effects of glutaraldehyde concentrationsfor cross-linking on the stability of OxDc in the glutaraldehydecross-linked alginate coated OxDc chitosan/TPP microparticles at pH 2.4with pepsin.

FIG. 6 is a graph which illustrates the stability of OxDc in two kindsof cross-linked and reduced microparticles under pH 2.2 and 1.85.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the bioavailability of oxalate (soluble part)after administration of compositions of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a graph which illustrates the time course of total solubleoxalate in spinach removed by microparticles in three differentsimulated conditions.

FIG. 9 is a graph that shows the effects of cross-linking withglutraldehyde (1-5%) in chitosan microparticles at pH 2.4 and in thepresence of pepsin.

FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating reduction of Schiff's base in theglutaraldehyde cross-linked alginate coated OxDc chitosan/TTPmicroparticles at differing pHs and in the presence of pepsin.

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are graphs showing oxalate removed by reducedglutaraldehyde cross-linked alginate coated OxDc chitosan/TPPmicroparticles at pH 3.

FIG. 12A is a graph that shows the bioavailability of oxalate (solublepart) after administration of compositions of the invention; FIG. 12B isa graph illustrating the percentage of total oxalate removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention comprises compositions and methods for treatingand preventing oxalate-related conditions. Compositions of the presentinvention comprise enzymes that reduce oxalate. The compositions of thepresent invention are designed so that the enzymes retain their activityeven if the compositions are subjected to a gastric environment. Methodsof the present invention comprise administering the compositions totreat or prevent oxalate-related conditions, and methods for making andusing such compositions. More specific, the invention relates to acomposition that is designed to enable reduction of oxalate undergastric conditions, thereby enabling a reduction of oxalate already inthe stomach. Such a composition is specifically designed to reducenon-systemic oxalate, e.g. oxalate in the gastrointestinal tract,notably in the stomach, and preventing exogenous oxalate (e.g. fromfood) from entering the systemic circulation.

As mentioned above, the background of the present invention was the needto be able to administer oxalate degrading enzymes to the stomach inorder to degrade dietary oxalate and prevent the uptake of oxalate fromthe stomach and intestinal tract, which prevents oxalate-relateddiseases and disorders, such as, e.g., hyperoxaluria, primaryhyperoxaluria, idiopathic calcium oxalate kidney stone disease(urothiliasis), and especially the absorptive and enteric hyperoxaluria.The administered enzymes are protected from the protein degradationand/or pH or acidic dependent degradation occurring under gastricconditions of the stomach, i.e. low pH and in the presence of pepsin.

Thus, the present invention relates to a composition, wherein theenzymes are embedded in a polymeric material which protects the enzymesfrom degradation under gastric conditions. It can be envisaged that thiscomposition may comprise any enzyme, but for the purpose of the presentinvention, oxalate degrading enzymes, such as, e.g., oxalatedecarboxylase, oxalate oxidase, or a combination of oxalyl-CoAdecarboxylase and formyl CoA transferase, or a combination of any ofthese, is contemplated by the present invention.

A composition according to the present invention comprises particlescomprising one or more enzymes embedded in a first polymeric material,wherein the embedded enzymes retain at least two times the activity ofthe one or more non-embedded enzymes from the same batch, afterincubation of both the embedded and the non-embedded (free) enzymes insimulated gastric fluid (84 mM HCl and 3.2 mg/ml pepsin at pH rangingfrom 1.0 to 4.0) at 37° C. for at least 60 minutes. The particles mayfurther be coated with a second polymeric material. As used herein, theterm “enzymes from the same batch” means enzymes that are isolated orsynthesized under identical conditions, and generally are isolated orsynthesized in the same isolation or synthesis procedure where theresulting enzyme composition is generally referred to as a batch. Forexample, a solution of enzymes is divided into two portions in which oneportion of enzymes is embedded in a particle and may undergo furthertreatment, and the other portion of enzymes is treated differently, andthese enzymes are considered to be from the same batch.

Normally, two different routes of treatment of oxalate-related diseasecan be employed, dependent on whether the aim of the treatment issystemic or non-systemic. Methods of the present invention provide acomposition for non-systemic treatment, i.e. to provide a compositionthat enables reducing oxalate in the stomach in order to avoidabsorption of oxalate from the gastrointestinal tract. To the best ofthe inventors' knowledge such a composition is novel and is based on anovel principle of, on the one hand protecting the enzyme from theacidic and enzyme-damaging environment in the stomach, and on the otherhand, maintaining the enzymatic activity even in an acidic environment.This goal may be accomplished by embedding the one or more oxalatedegrading enzyme in a first polymeric material, optionally coating theobtained particles with a second polymeric material, optionallycross-linking the second polymeric material and optionally reducing thecross-linked coated particles.

In one embodiment of the invention, a reduction in oxalate absorption isachieved by providing oxalate-degrading enzymes to the gastrointestinaltract, particularly the stomach. Compositions of the present inventioncomprise oxalate reducing enzymes including, but not limited to, oxalateoxidase, oxalate decarboxylase, oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase, or formyl-CoAtransferase, or combinations thereof. These enzymes use oxalate as asubstrate. Methods of the present invention comprise providing enzymaticcompositions for degradation of dietary oxalate in the stomach, thuslowering the concentration of available oxalate in the stomach forabsorption. This will also reduce the amount of oxalate going into theintestine for absorption in this segment of the gastrointestinal tract.In addition to absorptive pathways, oxalate secretory pathways have beenrecently identified in the human stomach. The compositions of thepresent invention would also be useful in degrading the oxalate secretedinto the stomach from the circulatory system, and thus the methods ofthe present invention contemplate an overall reduction of the oxalateload in an individual.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides compositions andmethods for the delivery of an effective amount of an oxalate reducingenzyme to the stomach of a human or animal, particularly to those whoare at increased risk for oxalate-related disease. Enzyme activity isused to degrade oxalate in the stomach and reduce the amount of oxalatepresent in the stomach and intestinal tract, thereby reducing the amountof oxalate available for absorption. Lower levels of oxalate in thegastrointestinal tract can also lead to increased oxalate excretion fromthe blood into the intestines through the oxalate secretory pathways.

The compositions of the present invention are suitable for use inoxalate-related conditions including, but not limited to, hyperoxaluria,absorptive hyperoxaluria, enteric hyperoxaluria, primary hyperoxaluria,idiopathic calcium oxalate kidney stone disease (urolithiasis),vulvodynia, oxalosis associated with end-stage renal disease, cardiacconductance disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease,ulcerative colitis, and patients who have undergone gastrointestinalsurgery and bariatric surgery (surgery for obesity), and/or who haveundergone antibiotic treatment.

A feature of a composition of the present invention is the ability ofthe particle to protect the oxalate-degrading enzymes from degradationby conditions such as those found in the gastric environment including,but not limited to, degradation by a protease such as pepsin ordegradation due to the acidic environment.

The term “oxalate degrading enzyme” as used herein is intended to denoteany enzyme that is capable of reducing oxalate. It may reduce oxalateper se and/or it may function in an oxalate reduction pathway. Thepresent invention contemplates the use of any known oxalate reducing ordegrading enzymes, and such terms “oxalate reducing” and “oxalatedegrading” are used interchangeably herein.

Enzymes used in the compositions and methods of the present inventioninclude, but are not limited to, oxalate oxidase, oxalate decarboxylase(in the present context abbreviated OxDc), oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase, orformyl-CoA transferase, or combinations thereof. Moreover, otherenzymes, cofactors and co-enzymes that are substituents of oxalatedegradation pathways or involved in oxalate metabolic pathways,particularly oxalate reduction, are also of relevance alone or incombination with one or more of the above-mentioned enzymes. In thepresent context not only the enzymes are encompassed by this definition,but also polynucleotide sequences that encode oxalate-reducing genes andproteins are contemplated by the present invention. The presentinvention also contemplates any binding partners of these enzymes andincludes antibodies and antibody fragments that bind to or interact withthe enzymes.

The enzymes may be derived by isolation from organisms, they may bepurified, they may be made synthetically, semi-synthetically or byrecombinant means, or they may be used as a cell lysate. Normally, theenzymes will be employed as purified recombinant protein, but since theenzymes can also be made in certain bacteria that are safe, it is alsocontemplated to use those bacteria as whole cells or as lysate. Due tothe medical use of a composition of the invention, it is preferred thatthe one or more enzymes used are well-defined with respect to purity andactivity. The cell lysate, if used, may be made from any microorganismthat has oxalate-reducing functions, e.g. O. formigenes.

The compositions of the present invention may also comprise one or moreadditional factors which may improve the enzyme activity. Theseadditional factors may be, e.g., oxalyl CoA, MgCl₂, and/or thiaminediphosphate (an active form of vitamin B₁).

In specific embodiments, one or more enzymes from the three main classesof oxalate-degrading enzymes are employed.

The three main classes of oxalate-degrading enzymes include thefollowing. The first, oxalate oxidase, is expressed in higher plants andcatalyzes the oxygen dependent oxidation of oxalate to CO₂ withconcomitant formation of H₂O₂. This reaction forms the basis of currentassays for the detection of urinary oxalate levels. A rapid three-steppurification procedure has been developed to obtain oxalate oxidase frombarley roots. This enzyme is also present in beetroot stem and root,amaranthus leaves, sorghum and many other grains.

Oxalate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.2), the second class of oxalatemetabolizing enzymes, is mainly present in various fungi. It has beenreported and characterized in several fungi such as, Myrotheciumverrucaria, certain strains of Aspergillus niger, white rot fungus,Coriolus versicolor and Collybia velutipes. This enzyme converts oxalateto formate and carbon dioxide in an oxygen dependent reaction. Oxalatedecarboxylases also have been used in the clinical assay of oxalate inblood and urine and can be used to lower oxalate levels in foods and theenvironment. The first bacterial oxalate decarboxylase recently has beendescribed as the product of the YvrK gene which is expressed as acytosolic protein in Bacillus subtilis. The YvrK protein (the B.subtilis oxalate decarboxylase) has been expressed as a functionalrecombinant protein in E. coli, purified to homogeneity and fullycharacterized.

The third class is the bacterial enzyme, oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase, whichis active on the CoA-activated substrate and converts it intoformyl-CoA. A formyl-CoA transferase then acts to exchange formate andoxalate on CoA. These enzymes have been studied in the oxalate degradingbacteria, Pseudomonas oxalaticus commonly found in the soil and inOxalobacter formigenes, residing in the GI tract of vertebrates andhumans.

The enzymes have been fully reviewed in, “The enzymes of oxalatemetabolism: Unexpected structures and metabolism” Svedruzic D. et al.Arch Biochem Biophys. 2005 Jan. 1; 433(1):176-92, which is hereinincorporated in its entirety. The enzymes, whether native enzymes,isolated proteins or those made by recombinant techniques, may bemodified by recombinant or chemical means and may contain side groups orother appended molecules. For example, enzymes may be modified to havelinker molecules for attachment to other molecules or chemicalcompounds.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, a reduction in oxalate levelsis achieved by use of oxalate-degrading enzymes produced by arecombinant means, such as, e.g., Escherichia Coli, or other organismswhich have been transformed to express oxalate-degrading enzymes.

Examples of recombinant enzymes of relevance in the present context are:

-   -   i). Oxalyl coA decarboxylase e.g. having one of the following        sequences: http://www.expasy.org/uniprot/P40149        UniProtKB/TrEMBL entry Accession number P40149

SEQ.ID 1   1 msnddnvelt dgfhvlidal kmndidtmyg vvgipitnla    rmwqddgqrf ysfrheqhag 61 yaasiagyie gkpgvcltvs apgflngvts lahattncfp    millsgsser eivdlqqgdy121 eemdqmnvar phckasfrin sikdipigia ravrtavsgr    pggvyvdlpa klfgqtisve181 eankllfkpi dpapaqipae daiaraadli knakrpviml    gkgaayaqcd deiralveet241 gipflpmgma kgllpdnhpq saaatrafal aqcdvcvlig    arlnwlmqhg kgktwgdelk301 kyvqidiqan emdsnqpiaa pvvgdiksav sllrkalkga    pkadaewtga lkakvdgnka361 klagkmtaet psgmmnysns lgvvrdfmla npdislvneg    analdntrmi vdmlkprkrl421 dsgtwgvmgi gmgycvaaaa vtgkpviave gdsafgfsgm    eleticrynl pvtviimnng481 giykgneadp qpgvisctrl trgrydmmme afggkgyvan    tpaelkaale eavasgkpcl 541 inamidpdag vesgriksln vvskvgkkhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=nucleotide&cmd=search&term=M77128&doptcmdl=GenBankGenBank Accession number M77128

SEQ ID 2    1 gagcaagatg agatgtcctt cctctgtggc aatcaggaat     atattgacgg cacgtgtttt  61 ccctacttcc ggtgtgccag acatctccaa agatctcatg     tggttttgga atccattttt 121 gccggtatcc cggctattcc ttacttttcc aaattgggtg     taatgcaatg aatctatggt 181 ttttaatgct gtatggacaa ttttccggca gtgaaatttt     cagatgcatt tcatttgtat 241 tcaggcggat ttgtttaaat tgacctgaat caatattgcc     ggattgatct aggtcaatga 301 agtcaaattg acttatgtca atggtgccaa attgacctag     gtcaacggga tttttaaagg 361 gtatgcggca tactcggaat tgacgttaaa caacgtttat     caaaaccaac caaagaaagg 421 tattactcat gagtaacgac gacaatgtag agttgactga     tggctttcat gttttgatcg 481 atgccctgaa aatgaatgac atcgatacca tgtatggtgt     tgtcggcatt cctatcacga 541 acctggctcg tatgtggcaa gatgacggtc agcgttttta     cagcttccgt cacgaacaac 601 acgcaggtta tgcagcttct atcgccggtt acatcgaagg     aaaacctggc gtttgcttga 661 ccgtttccgc ccctggcttc ctgaacggcg tgacttccct     ggctcatgca accaccaact 721 gcttcccaat gatcctgttg agcggttcca gtgaacgtga     aatcgtcgat ttgcaacagg 781 gcgattacga agaaatggat cagatgaatg ttgcacgtcc     acactgcaaa gcttctttcc 841 gtatcaacag catcaaagac attccaatcg gtatcgctcg     tgcagttcgc accgctgtat 901 ccggacgtcc aggtggtgtt tacgttgact tgccagcaaa     actgttcggt cagaccattt 961 ctgtagaaga agctaacaaa ctgctcttca aaccaatcga     tccagctccg gcacagattc1021 ctgctgaaga cgctatcgct cgcgctgctg acctgatcaa     gaacgccaaa cgtccagtta1081 tcatgctggg taaaggcgct gcatacgcac aatgcgacga     cgaaatccgc gcactggttg1141 aagaaaccgg catcccattc ctgccaatgg gtatggctaa     aggcctgctg cctgacaacc1201 atccacaatc cgctgctgca acccgtgctt tcgcactggc     acagtgtgac gtttgcgtac1261 tgatcggcgc tcgtctgaac tggctgatgc agcacggtaa     aggcaaaacc tggggcgacg1321 aactgaagaa atacgttcag atcgacatcc aggctaacga     aatggacagc aaccagccta1381 tcgctgcacc agttgttggt gacatcaagt ccgccgtttc     cctgctccgc aaagcactga1441 aaggcgctcc aaaagctgac gctgaatgga ccggcgctct     gaaagccaaa gttgacggca1501 acaaagccaa actggctggc aagatgactg ccgaaacccc     atccggaatg atgaactact1561 ccaattccct gggcgttgtt cgtgacttca tgctggcaaa     tccggatatt tccctggtta1621 acgaaggcgc taatgcactc gacaacactc gtatgattgt     tgacatgctg aaaccacgca1681 aacgtcttga ctccggtacc tggggtgtta tgggtattgg     tatgggctac tgcgttgctg1741 cagctgctgt taccggcaaa ccggttatcg ctgttgaagg     cgatagcgca ttcggtttct1801 ccggtatgga actggaaacc atctgccgtt acaacctgcc     agttaccgtt atcatcatga1861 acaatggtgg tatctataaa ggtaacgaag cagatccaca     accaggcgtt atctcctgta1921 cccgtctgac ccgtggtcgt tacgacatga tgatggaagc     atttggcggt aaaggttatg1981 ttgccaatac tccagcagaa ctgaaagctg ctctggaaga     agctgttgct tccggcaaac2041 catgcctgat caacgcgatg atcgatccag acgctggtgt     cgaatctggc cgtatcaaga2101 gcctgaacgt tgtaagtaaa gttggcaaga aataattagc     ccaactttga tgaccggtta2161 cgaccggtca cataaagtgt tcgaatgccc ttcaagttta     cttgaagggc atttttttac2221 cttgcagttt ataaacagga aaaattgaag tattcagagc     ggaaaagcag atttaagcca2281 cgagaaacat tcttttttat tgaaaattgc cataaacaca     tttttaaagc tggctttttt

-   -   ii). Formyl Co-A transferase e.g. having the following sequence:        http://www.expasy.org/uniprot/O06644        UniProtKB/TrEMBL entry Accession number O06644

SEQ ID 3   1 mtkpldginv ldfthvqagp actqmmgflg anvikierrg    sgdmtrgwlq dkpnvdslyf 61 tmfncnkrsi eldmktpegk elleqmikka dvmvenfgpg    aldrmgftwe yiqelnprvi121 lasvkgyaeg hanehlkvye nvaqcsggaa attgfwdgpp    tvsgaalgds nsgmhlmigi181 laalemrhkt grgqkvavam qdavlnlvri klrdqqrler    tgilaeypqa qpnfafdrdg241 nplsfdnits vprggnaggg gqpgwmlkck gwetdadsyv    yftiaanmwp qicdmidkpe301 wkddpayntf egrvdklmdi fsfietkfad kdkfevtewa    aqygipcgpv msmkelandp361 slqkvgtvve vvdeirgnhl tvgapfkfsg fqpeitrapl    lgehtdevlk elglddakik 421 elhakqvvhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=nucleotide&cmd=search&term=U82167&doptcmdl=GenBankGenBank Accession number U82167

SEQ ID 4    1 aagcttgctt cattttgaga tgttatgcga agtgttagca     acccaagtta gtaccttcag  61 ccctttgggc gaagtttttc tttcttggca gttcctttcg     gggaaacagc cacagagaat 121 aaaaaccaaa agttgtacca acgacaagga aatgagaaat     tatgactaaa ccattagatg 181 gaattaatgt gcttgacttt acccacgtcc aggcaggtcc     tgcctgtaca cagatgatgg 241 gtttcttggg cgcaaacgtc atcaagattg aaagacgtgg     ttccggagat atgactcgtg 301 gatggctgca ggacaaacca aatgttgatt ccctgtattt     cacgatgttc aactgtaaca 361 aacgttcgat tgaactggac atgaaaaccc cggaaggcaa     agagcttctg gaacagatga 421 tcaagaaagc cgacgtcatg gtcgaaaact tcggaccagg     cgcactggac cgtatgggct 481 ttacttggga atacattcag gaactgaatc cacgcgtcat     tctggcttcc gttaaaggct 541 atgcagaagg ccacgccaac gaacacctga aagtttatga     aaacgttgca cagtgttccg 601 gcggtgctgc agctaccacc ggtttctggg atggtcctcc     aaccgtttcc ggcgctgctc 661 tgggtgactc caactccggt atgcacctga tgatcggtat     tctggccgct ctggaaatgc 721 gtcacaaaac cggccgtggt cagaaagttg ccgtcgctat     gcaggacgct gttctgaatc 781 tggttcgtat caaactgcgt gaccagcaac gtctggaaag     aaccggcatt ctggctgaat 841 acccacaggc tcagcctaac tttgccttcg acagagacgg     taacccactg tccttcgaca 901 acatcacttc cgttccacgt ggtggtaacg caggtggcgg     cggccagcca ggctggatgc 961 tgaaatgtaa aggttgggaa accgatgcgg actcctacgt     ttacttcacc atcgctgcaa1021 acatgtggcc acagatctgc gacatgatcg acaagccaga     atggaaagac gacccagcct1081 acaacacatt cgaaggtcgt gttgacaagc tgatggacat     cttctccttc atcgaaacca1141 agttcgctga caaggacaaa ttcgaagtta ccgaatgggc     tgcccagtac ggcattcctt1201 gcggtccggt catgtccatg aaagaactgg ctcacgatcc     ttccctgcag aaagttggta1261 ccgtcgttga agttgtcgac gaaattcgtg gtaaccacct     gaccgttggc gcaccgttca1321 aattctccgg attccagccg gaaattaccc gtgctccgct     gttgggcgaa cataccgacg1381 aagttctgaa agaactgggt cttgacgatg ccaagatcaa     ggaactgcat gcaaaacagg1441 tagtttgatc cgtcagactt tctgggcaaa acggcactct     ccggagtgcc gtttttttgt1501 cacacgaaac cctaatcaaa caagcacgtg caatgattcc     acatcattgc ggccacattc 1561 atccttcggg tcattactg

-   -   iii). Oxalate decarboxylase e.g. having the following sequence        http://www.expasy.org/uniprot/O34714 UniProtKB/TrEMBL entry        Accession number O34714

SEQ ID 5   1 mkkqndipqp irgdkgatvk iprnierdrq npdmlvppet    dhgtvsnmkf sfsdthnrle 61 kggyarevtv relpisenla svnmrlkpga irelhwhkea    ewaymiygsa rvtivdekgr121 sfiddvgegd lwyfpsglph siqaleegae fllvfddgsf    senstfqltd wlahtpkevi181 aanfgvtkee isnlpgkeky ifenqlpgsl kddivegpng    evpypftyrl leqepieseg241 gkvyiadstn fkvsktiasa lvtvepgamr elhwhpnthe    wqyyisgkar mtvfasdgha301 rtfnyqagdv gyvpfamghy venigdeplv fleifkddhy    advslnqwla mlpetfvqah 361 ldlgkdftdv lskekhpvvk kkcskhttp://www.ebi.ac.uk/cgi-bin/dbfetch?db=emblcds&id=CAA11727 CoDingSequence Accession number AJ223978

SEQ ID 6    1 atgaaaaaac aaaatgacat tccgcagcca attagaggag     acaaaggagc aacggtaaaa  61 atcccgcgca atattgaaag agaccggcaa aaccctgata     tgctcgttcc gcctgaaacc 121 gatcatggca ccgtcagcaa tatgaagttt tcattctctg     atactcataa ccgattagaa 181 aaaggcggat atgcccggga agtgacagta cgtgaattgc     cgatttcaga aaaccttgca 241 tccgtaaata tgcggctgaa gccaggcgcg attcgcgagc     ttcactggca taaagaagct 301 gaatgggctt atatgattta cggaagtgca agagtcacaa     ttgtagatga aaaagggcgc 361 agctttattg acgatgtagg tgaaggagac ctttggtact     tcccgtcagg cctgccgcac 421 tccatccaag cgctggagga gggagctgag ttcctgctcg     tgtttgacga tggatcattc 481 tctgaaaaca gcacgttcca gctgacagat tggctggccc     acactccaaa agaagtcatt 541 gctgcgaact tcggcgtgac aaaagaagag atttccaatt     tgcctggcaa agaaaaatat 601 atatttgaaa accaacttcc tggcagttta aaagatgata     ttgtggaagg gccgaatggc 661 gaagtgcctt atccatttac ttaccgcctt cttgaacaag     agccgatcga atctgaggga 721 ggaaaagtat acattgcaga ttcgacaaac ttcaaagtgt     ctaaaaccat cgcatcagcg 781 ctcgtaacag tagaacccgg cgccatgaga gaactgcact     ggcacccgaa tacccacgaa 841 tggcaatact acatctccgg taaagctaga atgaccgttt     ttgcatctga cggccatgcc 901 agaacgttta attaccaagc cggtgatgtc ggatatgtac     catttgcaat gggtcattac 961 gttgaaaaca tcggggatga accgcttgtc tttttagaaa     tcttcaaaga cgaccattat1021 gctgatgtat ctttaaacca atggcttgcc atgcttcctg     aaacatttgt tcaagcgcac1081 cttgacttgg gcaaagactt tactgatgtg ctttcaaaag     aaaagcaccc agtagtgaaa 1141 aagaaatgca gtaaataaand/or

-   -   iv) Oxalate oxidase e.g. having the following sequence        http://www.expasy.org/uniprot/O24004        UniProtKB/TrEMBL entry Accession number O24004

SEQ ID 7   1 mgysknlgag lftmlllapa imatdpdplq dfcvadldgk    avsvnghtck pmseagddfl 61 fsskltkagn tstpngsavt eldvaewpgt ntlgvsmnrv    dfapggtnpp hihprateig121 mvmkgellvg ilgsfdsgnk lysrvvrage tfviprglmh    fqfnvgktea ymvvsfnsqn181 pgivfvpltl fgsnppiptp vltkalrvea gvvellkskf      aggshttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=nucleotide&cmd=search&term=Y14203&doptcmdl=GenBankGenBank Accession number Y14203

SEQ ID 8   1 agcttagcag caaccaccag tagtgcctca aaggctcctg    atcaacaaac tctagctcat 61 cagtggtagc taagcttgct acatagcaag caatgggtta    ctctaaaaac ctaggggctg121 gcctgttcac catgctgctc cttgctccgg ccatcatggc    taccgaccct gaccctctac181 aggacttctg cgtcgcggac ctcgatggca aggcggtctc    ggtgaacggg catacgtgta241 agcccatgtc ggaggccggc gacgacttcc tcttctcgtc    caagctgacc aaggccggca301 acacgtccac cccgaacggc tcggccgtga cggagctcga    cgtggccgag tggcccggta361 cgaacacgct gggcgtgtcc atgaaccgtg tggacttcgc    gccgggcggc accaacccgc421 cgcacatcca cccgcgtgca accgagatcg gcatggtgat    gaaaggtgag ctcctcgttg481 gaatcctcgg cagctttgac tccggaaaca agctctactc    cagggtggtg cgtgccggag541 agactttcgt catcccgcgc ggcctcatgc acttccagtt    caacgttggt aagacggaag601 cctacatggt tgtgtccttc aacagccaga accctggcat    cgtcttcgtg ccgctcacac661 tcttcggttc caacccgccc atccccacac cggtgctcac    caaggctctt cgggtggagg721 ccggggtcgt ggaacttctc aagtccaagt tcgccggtgg    gtcttaactt ccatgagccc781 caaatgatca atatgaatat gtaattctat atatccatgt    atgctgcgaa tttaatagta841 ctcgacagga gactatattc aagcttctgg ataagctcgc    atttcatagt aataagattg901 aataagttat cctagcggtt cagccttcag aaccaatgcg    aggacttaaa atgtattgct 961 tcttattatt

DNA sequences encoding oxalate-degrading enzymes are known to thoseskilled in the art and are described in, e.g. WO 98/16632, which isincorporated herein in its entirety.

Additionally, a composition according to the present invention maycomprise enzymes that comprise modifications or mutations, including,but not limited to, chimeras formed using domains comprising the oxalatedegrading active site of an oxalate reducing enzyme, or peptidefragments, notably those comprising or consisting of the active sites;modifications or mutations, including, but not limited to, deletions,insertions, replacements, reversions, mutations for increased activity,substitution of naturally occurring amino acids with non-natural aminoacids, or other modifications known to those skilled in the art. Suchmodified enzymes may have more, less or the same activity as nativeenzymes, or may have characteristics that are the same or different fromnative or unmodified enzymes. The present invention contemplates methodsand compositions comprising whole enzymes, fragments, peptides, bindingregions, active sites or other functional regions, segments, sequencesand promoter and control sequences of oxalate reducing enzymes.

In one example, an oxalate decarboxylase was modified. In total, 7 geneswere created from the original yvrk gene sequence (the wild-type yvrk).The original gene was from Bacillus subtilis, the gene sequence wasoptimized for expression in E. coli using an algorithm from GenScriptCorporation, Piscataway, N.J. The gene was optimized for codon usage,balancing GC content, removing repetitive elements, and ensuring theabsence of internal restriction sites for cloning. The codon optimizedgene resulted in a protein with the identical amino acid sequence as thewild-type yvrk.

Modifications were then made to the single cysteine codon of both thewild-type yvrk gene, and the optimized yvrk gene, resulting in 6additional unique gene sequences. The cysteine codons were modified toserine, arginine, or alanine codons. The modifications were performedfor the purposes of eliminating disulfide bonding, and modifying thesecondary and tertiary structure of the enzyme.

The gene sequence of the wild-type yvrk gene may be optimized foradditional expression systems such as Pichia or Saccharomyces using thesame methods. In addition, expression in a Bacillus expression systemmay be improved by optimizing the gene for optimum codon usage and GCcontent, and removal of repetitive elements. Codon optimization may alsobe used for modification of the secondary structure of the protein atpositions other than the cysteine codon already modified, or in additionto the cysteine modification, for example, as a method to improvepegylation, microsphere binding or encapsulation, as a method to improvepH stability at low pHs, or as a method to improve the activity of theprotein.

SEQ ID 9 AAAAAACAAAATGACATTCCGCAGCCAATTAGAGGAGACAAAGGAGCAACGGTAAAAATCCCGCGCAATATTGAAAGAGACCGGCAAAACCCTGATATGCTCGTTCCGCCTGAAACCGATCATGGCACCGTCAGCAATATGAAGTTTTCATTCTCTGATACTCATAACCGATTAGAAAAAGGCGGATATGCCCGGGAAGTGACAGTACGTGAATTGCCGATTTCAGAAAACCTTGCATCCGTAAATATGCGGCTGAAGCCAGGCGCGATTCGCGAGCTTCACTGGCATAAAGAAGCTGAATGGGCTTATATGATTTACGGAAGTGCAAGAGTCACAATTGTAGATGAAAAAGGGCGCAGCTTTATTGACGATGTAGGTGAAGGAGACCTTTGGTACTTCCCGTCAGGCCTGCCGCACTCCATCCAAGCGCTGGAGGAGGGAGCTGAGTTCCTGCTCGTGTTTGACGATGGATCATTCTCTGAAAACAGCACGTTCCAGCTGACAGATTGGCTGGCCCACACTCCAAAAGAAGTCATTGCTGCGAACTTCGGCGTGACAAAAGAAGAGATTTCCAATTTGCCTGGCAAAGAAAAATATATATTTGAAAACCAACTTCCTGGCAGTTTAAAAGATGATATTGTGGAAGGGCCGAATGGCGAAGTGCCTTATCCATTTACTTACCGCCTTCTTGAACAAGAGCCGATCGAATCTGAGGGAGGAAAAGTATACATTGCAGATTCGACAAACTTCAAAGTGTCTAAAACCATCGCATCAGCGCTCGTAACAGTAGAACCCGGCGCCATGAGAGAACTGCACTGGCACCCGAATACCCACGAATGGCAATACTACATCTCCGGTAAAGCTAGAATGACCGTTTTTGCATCTGACGGCCATGCCAGAACGTTTAATTACCAAGCCGGTGATGTCGGATATGTACCATTTGCAATGGGTCATTACGTTGAAAACATCGGGGATGAACCGCTTGTCTTTTTAGAAATCTTCAAAGACGACCATTATGCTGATGTATCTTTAAACCAATGGCTTGCCATGCTTCCTGAAACATTTGTTCAAGCGCACCTTGACTTGGGCAAAGACTTTACTGATGTGCTTTCAAAAGAAAAGCACCCAGTAGTGAAAAAGAAATGCAGTAAAOriginal yvrk sequence with the cysteine codon marked in bold.Yvrk gene sequence optimized for E. coli, with restriction sites at the5′ and 3′ ends (underlined), and the cysteine codon marked in bold.

SEQ ID 10 CATATGAAAAAACAGAATGACATTCCACAGCCGATTCGCGGCGATAAAGGCGCGACCGTCAAAATTCCTCGCAATATCGAACGCGACCGCCAGAATCCGGATATGCTGGTGCCGCCGGAGACGGACCATGGCACGGTGTCTAACATGAAATTCTCTTTTAGCGATACCCACAACCGCCTGGAAAAAGGTGGCTACGCGCGCGAGGTTACCGTCCGTGAACTGCCAATTAGCGAAAATCTGGCTTCGGTTAACATGCGTCTGAAACCAGGTGCTATCCGTGAGCTGCACTGGCACAAGGAAGCGGAATGGGCGTATATGATTTACGGTTCAGCACGTGTTACCATCGTAGACGAGAAAGGTCGTAGCTTTATCGATGATGTTGGCGAAGGTGATCTGTGGTATTTCCCATCTGGCCTGCCGCATTCGATTCAGGCGCTGGAAGAAGGCGCTGAATTTCTGCTGGTGTTCGATGATGGTTCCTTTTCTGAAAACAGCACGTTCCAGCTGACGGATTGGCTGGCGCACACGCCGAAAGAAGTCATTGCGGCCAATTTTGGGGTAACCAAAGAAGAAATTTCCAACCTGCCGGGCAAAGAAAAGTATATTTTTGAGAATCAGCTGCCGGGCTCTCTGAAGGACGATATTGTAGAAGGCCCTAACGGTGAGGTGCCGTATCCGTTCACCTATCGTCTGCTGGAGCAGGAACCGATTGAAAGCGAAGGCGGTAAAGTTTATATCGCAGATTCCACTAACTTTAAAGTCTCCAAGACCATTGCCAGCGCCCTGGTCACCGTGGAACCGGGAGCGATGCGCGAGCTGCACTGGCATCCGAACACGCACGAATGGCAGTATTATATTTCCGGCAAAGCACGCATGACCGTTTTTGCCTCAGATGGACACGCTCGCACGTTTAATTATCAAGCGGGTGATGTTGGCTACGTTCCTTTCGCCATGGGCCATTATGTAGAAAATATCGGCGATGAACCACTGGTGTTTCTGGAGATCTTTAAAGATGACCACTATGCCGATGTTTCACTGAATCAGTGGCTGGCCATGCTGCCGGAAACTTTTGTTCAGGCGCATCTGGACCTGGGTAAAGACTTTACGGATGTGCTGAGCAAAGAAAAACACCCGGTAGTCAAGAAGAAAT GCAGTAAAGGATCC

The oxalate-degrading enzyme is normally present in a composition of theinvention in an amount that is sufficient to degrade substantially alloxalate normally present in a standard meal. Depending on the foodchoices, an average Western diet can contain 100 to 300 mg ofoxalate/day. In general, about 0.2 g of the particles comprising enzyme(equal to 20 mg of OxDc in 1 mL of suspension of particles) can remove180 mg oxalate in simulated gastric conditions within 30 min.

An effective amount comprises an amount of activity units ofoxalate-reducing enzyme activity that will reduce a portion of theoxalate present, or a level of activity units of oxalate-reducing enzymeactivity that will initiate a reduction in the amount of oxalate ormaintain a lowered amount of oxalate in the individual, compared to theamount of oxalate present before administration of the composition. Thenumber of activity units of oxalate-reducing enzyme activity that can beused in a single dose composition can range from about 0.0001 units toabout 5,000 units, from about 5 units to 100 units, from 0.05 to 50units, to 0.5 to 500, from about 0.01 units to about 50 units, fromabout 0.01 units to about 5 units, from about 1 units to about 100units, from about 25 units to about 50 units, from about 30 units toabout 100 units, from about 40 units to about 120 units, from about 60units to about 15 from about 50 units to about 100 units, from about 100units to about 500 units, from about 100 units to about 300 units, fromabout 100 units to about 400 units, from about 100 units to about 5,000units, from about 1,000 units to about 5,000 units, from about 2,500units to about 5,000 units, from about 0.001 units to about 2,000 unitsand all ranges encompassed therein. A unit of the enzyme is the amountof enzyme that will degrade one micromole of oxalate per minute at 37°C.

A composition of the present invention comprises a particle comprisingan oxalate-degrading enzyme embedded in a first polymeric material. Inthe non-limiting examples herein are described methods of how to embedthe enzyme in the first polymeric material. A person skilled in the artmay find other methods suitable for use in order to prepare acomposition according to the present invention. By incorporation of theenzyme in the first polymeric material, the enzyme obtains a certainprotection against conditions similar to gastric fluid with respect topH and pepsin. The resulting embedded enzyme composition appears asparticles, i.e. discrete units in micron- or nano-size. Accordingly, theterms “particles”, “microparticles” and “nanoparticles” are used hereinto describe compositions containing one or more kinds of anoxalate-reducing enzyme embedded in a first polymer or in a first and asecond polymer. In general the term “particles” are used as the broadestterm, i.e. without any specific size or shape attribution, whereas theterm “microparticles” is used when the particles obtained have meanparticle sizes in the range of 1 μm to 1000 μm. Likewise, the term“nanoparticles” is used herein when the particles obtained have meanparticle sizes ranging from 1 nm to 1000 nm. As used herein the singularof the term “an enzyme” refers to multiple copies of the enzymemolecule, as is commonly understood in reference to protein molecules.As used herein, the term “one or more enzymes” means that one type ofenzyme may be present, such as formyl-CoA transferase is intended, ormore than one type of enzyme, such as a composition comprising, forexample oxalyl CoA decarboxylase and formyl CoA transferase; oxalatedecarboxylase and oxalate oxidase, or a combination of wild-type enzymeand mutant enzyme, are present in the composition.

Normally, the particles of a composition of the invention have anaverage diameter of from about 50 nm to about 1 mm, such as, e.g., fromabout 500 μm to about 500 μm, from about 1 μm to about 500 μm, fromabout 2 μm to about 100 μm, from about 4 μm to about 80 μm, from about 6μm to about 60 μm, from about 8 μm to about 40 μm, from about 10 μm toabout 20 μm.

The term “embedded” as used herein is intended to denote that the enzymeis admixed or contacted with the first polymeric material in such a waythat

-   -   i) the first polymeric material substantially envelopes the        enzyme, i.e. the particle can be regarded as an        enzyme-containing core surrounded by the first polymeric        material; the core may contain other substances than the enzymes        such as, e.g., a part of the polymeric material as well, or    -   ii) the enzymes is incorporated in the first polymeric material        in such a manner that the major part of the surface of the        particles is composed of the first polymeric material, but a        minor part of the enzyme may as well appear on the surface of        the particles. In general, it is contemplated that at least 50%        of the outer surface of the particles is composed of the first        polymeric material and at the most about 20% by weight of the        enzyme present in the particles may be present on the outer        surface of the particles, and/or    -   iii) the enzyme is substantially homogeneously distributed in        the first polymeric material.

Thus, in a composition of the invention the oxalate-degrading enzyme isprotected from the (gastric) environment. Furthermore, the compositionof the invention does not substantially release the enzyme to the(gastric) environment. In other words, the enzyme remains in thecomposition after oral administration for a sufficient period of time toenable oxalate in the stomach to be degraded. In a composition, a firstpolymeric material may function as a protective carrier for the enzymeand at the same time may allow the substrate, i.e. oxalate, to diffuseor otherwise be transported into the composition to enable an in situdegradation of oxalate. A feature of a composition of the presentinvention is the composition's ability to retain the enzymatic activityfor a period of time longer than that observed for an enzyme that is notembedded in a polymeric matrix, especially under acidic conditions.Accordingly, one aspect the present invention comprises a compositioncomprising particles comprising one or more oxalate degrading enzymesembedded in a first polymeric material, wherein the embedded enzymeretains at least two times the activity of the one or more non-embeddedfree enzymes, obtained from the same batch, upon incubation in USPsimulated gastric juice containing 84 mM HCl and 3.2 mg/ml pepsin atpH>1, e.g. in a range of pH about 1 to pH about 5, such as, e.g., frompH about 2 to pH about 5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about 4.5, from pHabout 2.5 to pH about 3.5 such as pH about 3 at 37° C. for at least 60minutes. It is important that the test conditions for the compositionaccording to the invention and the free enzymes are the same, forexample, with respect to the nature and purity of the enzyme, theinitial concentration of the enzyme, the test volume, the composition ofthe incubation medium (e.g. simulated gastric juice or fluid), thetemperature etc.

Normally, the embedded enzyme retains at least three times the activity,at least four times the activity, or at least five times the activity ofthe one or more non-embedded free enzymes obtained from the same batchupon incubation in USP simulated gastric juice containing 84 mM HCl and3.2 mg/ml pepsin at pH>1, e.g. in a range of pH about 1 to pH about 5,from pH about 2 to pH about 5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about 4.5, frompH about 2.5 to pH about 3.5 such as pH about 3, at 37° C. for at least30 minutes, at least 45 min, at least 60 minutes, at least 75 minutes,at least 90 minutes, at least 105 minutes or at least 120 minutes.

In a specific embodiment, the one or more embedded oxalate degradingenzymes in a composition of the invention retain at least two times, atleast 10 times, at least 50 times or at least 100 times, the activity ofthe one or more non-embedded free enzyme, obtained from the same batch,upon incubation in 84 mM HCl and 3.2 mg/ml pepsin at pH>1, e.g. in arange of pH about 1 to pH about 5, from pH about 2 to pH about 5, frompH about 2.5 to pH about 4.5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about 3.5 such aspH about 3, at 37° C. for at least 60 minutes.

Simulated gastric juice (gastric fluid) referred to above is describedin USP (United States Pharmacopoeia) and contains pepsin and has aspecific ratio of concentrated HCl. (USP simulated gastric juicecontains 2 g NaCl, 3.2 g pepsin and 7 mL concentrated HCl in 1 L volume.The pH of this solution usually ranged from 1.2 to 1.5, depending on theconcentration of the HCl used. In some examples herein, the pH wasadjusted to above 2. This may be the case when microparticles withoutany coating were employed. For the present purpose, the pH should be inthe acid range, i.e. at the most about 7, at the most 6 and the pH rangeshould normally be from about 1 to about 5, from about 2 to about 5. Inthe experimental section herein are more details relating to theabove-mentioned test and to determination of the enzymatic activity.

The residence time in the stomach of a human is on average about 120min. It is contemplated that the enzymatic activity of the compositionsof the present invention is retained at a sufficient level, an effectivelevel, for 120 min or more. From the examples herein it is seen that itis possible to retain at least 50% of the enzymatic activity for acomposition according to the invention after 120 min of exposure to anacidic environment. If the enzyme that is used is not embedded in apolymer, e.g., a non-embedded enzyme, the activity decline is veryrapid, and no activity is left after 60 min in acidic environment.

Normally, the activity of one or more oxalate degrading enzymes in acomposition according to the invention at the most decreases to about30%, at the most decreases to 40% such as at the most decreases to about50%, at the most decreases to about 60% or at the most decreases toabout 70%, when incubated in an aqueous buffer solution having a pH inthe range of from about 1.0 to about 5, in a range of from about 1.0 toabout 4.5, from about 1.5 to about 4.5, from about 2.0 to about 4.0 orfrom about 2.2 to about 4.0, for about 60 min. for about 90 min, forabout 105 minutes or for about 120 minutes, with the initial activitybeing set to 100%.

In a specific embodiment, the activity of the oxalate degrading enzymein a composition of the present invention at the most decreases to 80%,with the initial activity being set to 100%, when tested at a pH of fromabout 2.0 to about 4.0 for a time period of 60 min.

In a further specific embodiment, the activity of one or more oxalatedegrading enzymes in a composition of the present invention at the mostdecreases to about 20% when incubated in an aqueous buffer solutionhaving a pH in the range of from about 2 to about 4.5 for 2 hours, andthe initial activity being set to 100%. Notably, the activity at themost decreases to 30%, and the initial activity being set to 100%.

Suitable buffer substances for providing a buffer solution having aspecific pH are known to persons skilled in the art. Examples areglycine buffers (pH 2-3), acetate buffers, phosphate buffers, boratebuffers and the like. The buffer solution may contain additionalingredients such as e.g. inorganic salt in order to adjust the ionicstrength of the buffer solution, or one or more proteases like e.g.pepsin in order to ensure that the conditions in the buffer solutionschallenge whether the embedded enzyme can withstand such harshconditions. In the event that one or more proteases are included, theconcentration thereof is normally at the same level as that used in USPsimulated gastric juice.

As mentioned herein before, the oxalate degrading enzymes can be ofvarious types, classes, identity and nature. In a preferred aspect, acomposition of the present invention comprises one or more oxalatedegrading enzymes including oxalate decarboxylase, oxalate oxidase, or acombination of oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase and formyl CoA transferase, orcombination thereof.

Suitable polymeric materials for use as a first polymeric material in acomposition of the present invention, include, but are not limited to,man-made or natural polymers, including, but not limited to,

i) a polysaccharide: alginate including alginic acid, alginate e.g.sodium alginate, potassium alginate, ammonium alginate, calciumalginate, propane-1,2-diol alginate, acacia, carrageenan, chitosan andits derivatives, chondroitin sulfate, dextran derivatives, heparin,hyaluronic acid, inulin, a cellulose or a cellulose derivative includingmethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose,hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose,ethylmethylcellulose, or the like or combinations thereof; ii) amucopolysaccharide, iii) a gum including locust bean gum, guar gum,tragacanth, agar, acacia gum, xanthan gum, karaya gum, tara gum, gellangum, or the like or combinations thereof; iv) a gelling- or swellingagent including hydrocolloids and hydrogelling agents such as, agar,carrageenan, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidone, or the like, or combinationsthereof; v) others like e.g. protein and polyamide: collagen, albumin,protamine, spermine, synthetic polymer: poly (acrylic acid), poly aminoacids (polylysine, etc), polyphosphoric acid, tripolyphosphate, poly(L-lactic acid), poly (vinyl alcohol), poly (DL-lactic acid-co-glycolicacid), or mixtures and combinations thereof.

In specific embodiments the first polymeric material is chitosan,alginate, pectin or hyaluronic acid. In more specific embodiments, thefirst polymeric material is chitosan or alginate.

Other polymeric materials may be biopolymers or synthetic polymers.Examples of biopolymers include, but are not limited to, proteins,polysaccharides, mucopolysaccharides, heparin, heparin sulfate,heparinoids, dermatan sulfate, pentosan polysulfate, chondroitinsulfate, cellulose, agarose, chitin, carrageenin, linoleic acid, andallantoin, cross-linked collagen, fibronectin, laminin, elastin,cross-linked elastin, collagen, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, chitosanalginate, dextran, methylcellulose, polylysine, and natural rubber. Inthe compositions of the present invention wherein polymeric matrices areformed, these matrices are porous such that small water solublemolecules can enter and exit the polymeric matrix, including, but notlimited to molecules such as oxalate, formic acid, formate, carbondioxide, oxygen, or oxalyl-CoA. A concentration of the first polymericmaterial in a composition of the invention is normally in a range from20% to 70% of the total dry materials.

In addition to the one or more enzymes and the first polymeric material,the particles may also contain one or more additives such as, e.g., pHadjusting agents, buffering agents, solubilizing agents, stabilizers,preservatives, cofactors for the enzymes or one or more pharmaceuticallyacceptable excipients such as, e.g. fillers, diluents, carriers or thelike.

Moreover, it may be advantageous to create a localized acidic pHenvironment around a protein when the physiological conditions result ina pH well above the reasonable working range of the enzyme. For example,in a higher pH location, an oxalate degrading protein with maximumactivity at pH three would benefit from a delivery vehicle capable ofreducing the local pH in the proximity around the enzyme to aroundthree.

One method for reducing the local pH is to incorporate a polymer thatcan undergo hydrolytic degradation in physiological conditions toproduce acidic products that reduce the localized pH. For example, alphapolyesters such as PLA, PGA and PLGA biodegrade hydrolytically in vivoto form organic acids (lactic acid and glycolic acid) which can drivedown the pH locally into to a functionally desirable range for theenzyme. Poly(dl-lactide) (DLPLA) is an amorphous polymer exhibiting arandom distribution of both isomeric forms of lactic acid that candegrade quickly.

In addition, it may be desirable to include a buffer in the deliveryvehicle in the form of a base, base containing or base generatingmaterial that works in conjunction with the in vivo pH, or the localizedpH, or a combination of both to optimize/control the local pH around theenzyme. These buffers may include salts of organic or inorganiccompounds or a number of other buffers. It is understood that the pKa ofthe conjugate acids of which the buffering materials areassociated/derived from can be utilized in the appropriate selection ofbuffering materials.

The particles may be subjected to a cross-linking procedure. Such across-linking procedure may strengthen the properties of the particlessuch as to avoid loss of enzymatic activity by negative impact of pH orpepsin from the surroundings during storage or after oraladministration, or to reduce release of the enzyme from the particles orto reduce or prevent migration of the enzyme towards the surface of theparticles. The cross-linking procedures and suitable material for use insuch a procedure are described herein.

The particles of the invention may be constructed of polymers that arecross-linked by physical or chemical cross-linking. Physicalcross-linking may comprise opposite charged polymers cross-linked witheach other by salt bonds (for example: chitosan, which is positivelycharged, cross-links with tripolyphosphate or heparin, which arenegatively charged polymers), charged polymers cross-link with oppositecharged ions (for example: alginate with Ca²⁺, carboxymethyl-cellulosewith Al³⁺). The term “physical cross-linking” used in the presentcontext also includes non-covalent bindings and/or interactions.

Chemical cross-linking generally comprises cross linking bycross-linkers with two reactive functional groups such as by polymerbearing amine groups such as proteins, polyamide, chitosan and itsderivatives, may be cross-linked through glutaraldehyde or genipin. UVirradiation can be used to induce polymers bearing light sensitivegroups to form covalent cross-links.

Methods for preparation of nano- and micro-particles are known in theart and include emulsion, coacervation/precipitation, spray-dryingtechniques and others. The properties of nanoparticles or microparticles(for examples: micro-environmental buffer capacity, mechanical strength,particle size, oxalate diffusion rate, interactions with enzymes)largely depend on selected polymer(s), polymer composition and ratio,cross-linking method and preparation procedure. More than one type ofcross-linking may be utilized in the microparticles of the invention(e.g. chemical cross-linking as well as physical cross-linking, see theexamples herein).

In a specific embodiment the first polymeric material is cross-linked toitself and/or to the one or more enzymes embedded in the first polymericmaterial.

In a composition of the invention, such as a composition wherein thefirst polymeric material is cross-linked to itself and/or the enzymesembedded therein, the level of retained enzymatic activity uponincubation in 84 mM HCl and 3.2 mg/ml pepsin at pH>1, e.g. in a range ofpH about 1 to pH about 5, from pH about 2 to pH about 5, from pH about2.5 to pH about 4.5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about 3.5 for pH about 3,at 37° C. for at least 30 minutes, for at least 60 minutes, for at leastfor at least 80 minutes, for at least 100 minutes, for at least 120minutes, for at least 140 minutes, for at least 160 minutes, for atleast 180 minutes, for at least 200 minutes, for at least 220 minutes,or at for least 240 minutes is increased by a factor of at least 2, atleast 5, at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, at least 50 or at least100 as compared to compositions of enzymes of the same batch embedded inthe polymer but without the polymer being cross-linked or the enzymesand polymer being cross-linked; or compared to the same batch of freeenzymes.

The particles, optionally the particles wherein at least a part of thefirst polymeric material is cross-linked, may also be provided with acoating. Such a coating has generally the same function as the firstpolymer, i.e. to avoid a substantial decrease in the enzymatic activityof the enzyme embedded in the first polymer during storage and/or afteroral administration.

Accordingly, in a specific embodiment, the particles are coated with asecond polymeric material. Suitable coating materials are such materialsthat allow an aqueous composition containing oxalate to diffuse into, orotherwise enter, the particle of the invention. As mentioned above, thesubstrate (i.e. the oxalate-containing medium) enters into the particlecomposition of the invention so that enzymatic degradation of oxalatecan occur. Accordingly, coating materials resulting in either diffusioncoating or otherwise permeable coatings (e.g. coatings containingpore-forming substances that are substantially water-soluble) can beapplied.

Examples of suitable coating materials include, but are not limited to,the materials contemplated as first polymeric materials. A coatingmaterial may be chosen that is different than that used as a firstpolymeric material, but the first polymeric material and the coatingmaterial may also be the same. Specific examples of coating materialsare film-forming agents such as, e.g. polyvinylpyrrolidone,hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethylcellulose,hydroxypropylcellulose, polydextrose, maltodextrin, or otherpolysaccharides including chitosan, alginates and hyaluronic acid. Inspecific embodiments, the coating material, if present, is one that canbe subjected to cross-linking such as, e.g., chitosan and alginate.

In a specific embodiment the first and/or second polymeric material is apolysaccharide such as chitosan, alginate, pectin or hyaluronic acid.The first and second polymeric materials may be the same or different.

Normally, the polymer percentage of the first and, if present, secondpolymer material is from about 10% to about 80%, from about 60% to about80% of the total dry material of a particle.

If present, the coating material is normally applied in such an amountthe weight gain of the particles is at the most about 40%. As seen fromthe examples herein, the concentration of the coating material in aparticle composition is normally at the most 25% w/w such as at the mostabout 20% w/w, at the most about 15% w/w or at the most about 10%. Aparticle having a coating is referred to herein as a coated composition.

In a composition of the invention, such as in a coated composition ofthe invention, the level of retained enzymatic activity upon incubationin 84 mM HCl and 3.2 mg/ml pepsin at pH>1, e.g. in a range of pH about 1to pH about 5, from pH about 2 to pH about 5, from pH about 2.5 to pHabout 4.5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about 3.5, such as pH about 3, at 37°C. for at least 60 minutes, for at least for at least 80 minutes, for atleast 100 minutes, for at least 120 minutes, for at least 140 minutes,for at least 160 minutes, for at least 180 minutes, for at least 200minutes, for at least 220 minutes, or at for least 240 minutes isincreased by a factor of at least 2, at least 10, at least 50 or atleast 100 as compared to compositions of the same batch of enzymesembedded in particles lacking a coating, or compared to the same batchof free enzymes.

As mentioned above and as shown in the Examples herein, the stability ofthe enzymatic activity of the oxalate-degrading enzyme in a compositionof the invention may be further improved by employing coated particleswherein the coating has been subjected to cross-linking. Cross-linkingof a polymeric material is well-known in the art and may be performed byphysical cross-linking or by use of a chemical cross-linking agent.

Suitable chemical cross-linking agents for use in this context include,but are not limited to, dialdehyde,1-ethyl-3[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide (EDC), disuccinimidylsuberate (DSS) or (N-[p-maleimidophenyl]isocyanate (PMPI). In a specificembodiment, the cross-linking agent is a dialdehyde, notablyglutaraldehyde or glyoxal. In an embodiment, the cross-linking agent isglutaraldehyde. The cross-linking is normally carried out in 1-5%gluteraldehyde in 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.5 at 37° C., shaking for1-2 hours.

As mentioned above, a feature of a composition of the invention is thatthe first and, if present, second polymeric material is permeable forsmall molecules to allow the substrates for and products of the reactioncatalyzed by the one or more enzymes to diffuse through said polymericmaterials. Moreover, the first and/or second polymeric materials remainsubstantially intact upon incubation in 84 mM HCl and 3.2 mg/ml pepsinat pH>1, e.g. in a range of pH about 1 to pH about 5, from pH about 2 topH about 5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about 4.5, from pH about 2.5 to pHabout 3.5 such as pH about 3, at 37° C. for at least 60 minutes, for atleast 80 minutes, for at least 100 minutes, for at least 120 minutes,for at least 140 minutes, for at least 160 minutes, for at least 180minutes, for at least 200 minutes, for at least 220 minutes, or for atleast 240 minutes.

In another embodiment the first and/or second polymeric materials arecross-linked to themselves and/or each other and/or to the one or moreenzymes.

In a composition of the invention, such as in a coated or a coated andcross-linked coating composition of the invention, the level of retainedenzymatic activity upon incubation in 84 mM HCl and 3.2 mg/ml pepsin atpH>1, e.g. in a range of pH about 1 to pH about 5, from pH about 2 to pHabout 5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about 4.5, from pH about 2.5 to pHabout 3.5 such as pH about 3, at 37° C. for at least 60 minutes, for atleast for at least 80 minutes, for at least 100 minutes, for at least120 minutes, for at least 140 minutes, for at least 160 minutes, for atleast 180 minutes, for at least 200 minutes, for at least 220 minutes,or at for least 240 minutes, is increased by a factor of at least 2, atleast 10, at least 50 or at least 100 as compared to compositions ofenzymes of the same batch embedded in particles but where the particleslack a second layer of polymeric material (a coating), or a second layerthat is cross-linked, or compared to the same batch of free enzymes.

As seen from the Examples herein, a composition of the invention whereinthe bonds between the chemical cross-linking agent and the one or moreenzymes and/or the first polymeric material and/or the second polymericmaterial have been reduced by a reducing agent, may lead to furtherimprovements with respect to retaining the enzymatic activity of thecomposition. Such a reducing agent may be one well-known in the art suchas e.g., a reducing agent such as NaBH₄ or NaCNBH₃.

In a composition of the invention, notably in a coated, withcross-linked coating, and reduced cross-links composition of theinvention, wherein the first and/or second polymeric material may becross-linked, and such a cross-linked material may or may not bereduced, the level of retained enzymatic activity upon incubation in 84mM HCl and 3.2 mg/ml pepsin at pH>1, e.g. in a range of pH about 1 to pHabout 5, from pH about 2 to pH about 5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about4.5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about 3.5, such as pH about 3, at 37° C.for at least 60 minutes, for at least for at least 80 minutes, for atleast 100 minutes, for at least 120 minutes, for at least 140 minutes,for at least 160 minutes, for at least 180 minutes, for at least 200minutes, for at least 220 minutes, or for at least 240 minutes isincreased by a factor of at least 2, at least 10, at least 50 or atleast 100 as compared to compositions of the same batch of enzymes in aparticle that has not been subjected to a reducing agent; or compared tothe same batch of free enzymes.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, the one or more embeddedenzymes retain at least two times, at least 10 times, at least 50 timesor at least 100 times, the activity of the one or more non-embedded freeenzymes obtained from the same batch of enzymes upon incubation in 84 mMHCl and 3.2 mg/ml pepsin at pH>1, e.g. in a range of pH about 1 to pHabout 5, from pH about 2 to pH about 5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about4.5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about 3.5, such as pH about 3, at 37° C.for at least 60 minutes, for at least 80 minutes, for at least 100minutes, for at least 120 minutes, for at least 140 minutes, for atleast 160 minutes, for at least 180 minutes, for at least 200 minutes,for at least 220 minutes, or for at least 240 minutes.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the one or moreembedded enzymes retain at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, atleast 80%, at least 90%, at least 95% of the initial activity of theembedded enzymes upon incubation in 84 mM HCl and 3.2 mg/ml pepsin atpH>1, e.g. in a range of pH about 1 to pH about 5, from pH about 2 to pHabout 5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about 4.5, from pH about 2.5 to pHabout 3.5, such as pH about 3, at 37° C. for at least 60 minutes, for atleast 80 minutes, for at least 100 minutes, for at least 120 minutes,for at least 140 minutes, for at least 160 minutes, for at least 180minutes, for at least 200 minutes, for at least 220 minutes, or for atleast 240 minutes.

In a further specific embodiment of the invention, the one or moreenzymes retain from about 95% to about 100% of the initial activity ofthe embedded enzymes¹ upon incubation in 84 mM HCl and 3.2 mg/ml pepsinat pH>1, e.g. in a range of pH about 1 to pH about 5, from pH about 2 topH about 5, from pH about 2.5 to pH about 4.5, from pH about 2.5 to pHabout 3.5, such as pH about 3, at 37° C. for at least 60 minutes, for atleast 80 minutes, for at least 100 minutes, for at least 120 minutes,for at least 140 minutes, for at least 160 minutes, for at least 180minutes, for at least 200 minutes, for at least 220 minutes, or for atleast 240 minutes. What is intended here?—a comparison between theenzyme activity (though these are in a particle?) to the free enzymeactivity? A comparison of the stability between the embedded enzyme andthe free enzyme.

The enzyme embedded in a particle of the invention is capable ofreducing oxalate content of food. As demonstrated in the Examplesherein, a composition of the invention comprising 20 mg of one or moreoxalate-degrading enzymes degrades at least 40%, such as, e.g., at least50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 95% or at least99% of the oxalate present in 200 g spinach within 1 hour at pH=2.5.

Compositions of the invention may be prepared by employment of variouspolymeric materials. The following notation is used in the examplesherein:

OxDc XX nanoparticles, such as chitosan nanoparticles, denotenanoparticles wherein chitosan is employed as the first polymericmaterial in which OxDc is embedded.

YY coated OxDc XX microparticles, such as alginate coated OxDc chitosannanoparticles, denote nanoparticles wherein chitosan is employed as thefirst polymeric material in which OxDc is embedded and the nanoparticlesare coated with alginate.

ZZ cross-linked YY coated OxDc XX microparticles, such as glutaraldehydecross-linked alginate coated OxDc chitosan microparticles, denotemicroparticles wherein chitosan is employed as the first polymericmaterial in which OxDc is embedded, and the nanoparticles are coatedwith alginate to form microparticles, and the microparticles aresubsequently cross-linked with glutaraldehyde.

Reduced ZZ cross-linked YY coated OxDc XX microparticles, such asreduced glutaraldehyde cross-linked alginate coated OxDc chitosanmicroparticles, denote microparticles wherein chitosan is employed asthe first polymeric material in which OxDc is embedded and thenanoparticles that are formed are coated with alginate, which formsmicroparticles, and the microparticles are subsequently cross-linkedwith glutaraldehyde and subjected to reduction.

Accordingly,

OxDc chitosan/TPP nanoparticles are nanoparticles made from chitosanwhich contain TPP and have OxDC embedded therein.

Alginate coated OxDc chitosan/TPP microparticles are microparticlesbased on the nanoparticles formed from chitosan and TPP and embeddedOxDc, the nanoparticles are coated with alginate to form microparticles.

Glutaraldehyde cross-linked alginate coated OxDc chitosan/TPPmicroparticles corresponds to the microparticles mentioned above, butthe microparticles have been subjected to glutaraldehyde treatment toestablish cross-linking.

Reduced glutaraldehyde cross-linked alginate coated OxDc chitosan/TPPmicroparticles corresponds to the microparticles mentioned above furtherbeing subjected to a reduction process.

A composition of the invention is suitable for use for oraladministration to a subject. A composition is provided as oralpharmaceutical formulations, which may be delivered to the oral cavity,the mouth, a buccal patch, to the stomach, attached to the stomachmucosa, in a slow release liquid, in a quick release tablet in the mouthor stomach, coating the esophagus, in a liquid or solid formaccompanying food, prior to ingesting food, or immediately afteringesting food.

The composition administered is normally in solid form e.g. in the formof particles or in a solid dosage form e.g. in the form of sachets,capsules or tablets (e.g. the particles are further processed into asuitable dosage form by methods well-known by a person skilled in theart). To this end, suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients maybe added such as, e.g., fillers, binders, disintegrants, colors,flavors, pH-adjusting agents, stabilizers etc. Moreover, one or morefurther therapeutically and/or prophylactically substances may be addedand/or other enzymes, cofactors, substrates, coenzymes, minerals andother agents that are helpful in the reduction of oxalate.

Examples of suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients include:dextrins, maltodextrins, dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, cellulosederivatives including carboxymethylcellulose calcium,carboxymethylcellulose sodium, hydroxypropylcellulose,hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), microcrystalline cellulose (e.g.,various grades of Avicel®), starches or modified starches (e.g. potatostarch, maize starch, rice starch, pre-gelatinised starch), polyvinylacetate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, agar, sodium alginate, sodiumcroscarmellose, calcium hydrogen phosphate, calcium phosphate (e.g.basic calcium phosphate, calcium hydrogen phosphate), calcium sulphate,carboxyalkylcellulose, dextrates, dibasic calcium phosphate, gelatine,gummi arabicum, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose,methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, and aslubricants: talc, magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, stearic acid,hydrogenated vegetable oils and the like.

Methods of the present invention comprise treating or preventingoxalate-related conditions in humans and animals by administering aneffective amount of oxalate-reducing compositions comprising one or moreoxalate-reducing microorganisms, one or more oxalate reducing enzymes orcombination and mixtures thereof in the particle compositions taughtherein. Methods comprise providing compositions comprising theenzyme-embedded particles taught herein to a subject, human or animal,and reducing oxalate present in the subject, treating or preventingoxalate related conditions, and/or reducing a portion of the oxalateingested. Methods for reducing oxalate in a human or animal compriseadministering an effective amount of a composition comprising one ormore oxalate-reducing enzymes or fragments having oxalate reducingactivity in the embedded enzyme particle compositions of the presentinvention to a subject, human or animal, and reducing oxalate present.The reduction may take place in any tissue or body fluid environment ofthe subject. Body fluids include secretions of the body such as nasal orgastric secretions, saliva, blood, serum, urine, chyme or digestivematter, tissue fluid, and other fluid or semi-solid materials made byhumans or animals. For example, embedded enzyme particle compositionscan be administered orally to a human or animal and the oxalate-reducingenzyme activity reduces the oxalate present in the stomach of the humanor animal. Embedded enzyme particle compositions of the presentinvention may be mixed in liquids, food or other dietary materials andprovided to a human or animal so that the oxalate-reducing enzymeactivity of the particles is effective in the stomach environment.Embedded enzyme particle compositions of the present invention may alsobe mixed with foodstuffs or other materials in which oxalate is foundand the oxalate-reducing enzyme activity of the particles reduces theoxalate present in the foodstuff or other materials.

The methods for treating and preventing oxalate-related conditionscomprise administering a composition comprising particles comprising aneffective amount of oxalate-reducing enzymes. An effective amountcomprises an amount of activity units of oxalate-reducing enzymeactivity that will reduce a portion of the oxalate present, or a levelof activity units of oxalate-reducing enzyme activity that will initiatea reduction in the amount of oxalate or maintain a lowered amount ofoxalate in the individual compared to the amount of oxalate presentbefore administration of the composition. The number of activity unitsof oxalate-reducing enzyme activity that can be used in a single dosecomposition can range from about 0.0001 units to about 5,000 units, fromabout 5 units to 100 units, from 0.05 to 50 units, to 0.5 to 500, fromabout 0.01 units to about 50 units, from about 0.01 units to about 5units, from about 1 units to about 100 units, from about 25 units toabout 50 units, from about 30 units to about 100 units, from about 40units to about 120 units, from about 60 units to about 15 from about 50units to about 100 units, from about 100 units to about 500 units, fromabout 100 units to about 300 units, from about 100 units to about 400units, from about 100 units to about 5,000 units, from about 1,000 unitsto about 5,000 units, from about 2,500 units to about 5,000 units, fromabout 0.001 units to about 2,000 units and all ranges encompassedtherein. The compositions may further include other enzymes, cofactors,substrates, coenzymes, minerals and other agents that are helpful in thereduction of oxalate. An unit of the enzyme is the amount of enzyme thatwill degrade one micromole of oxalate per minute at 37° C.

In a treatment method, an effective amount of a particle composition astaught herein is administered orally to be ingested by a subject atleast once a day, at least twice a day, at least three times a day, atleast four times a day or more if necessary, and such administration canbe for one day, two days, three days, four days, five days, or a week,two weeks, three weeks, or a month, two months, three months, fourmonths, five months, six months, more than six months, one year, twoyears, or for years or continuously through the life of the patient.Such treatment may be continued to maintain the desired oxalate levelsin a subject.

It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referentsunless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

All patents, patent applications and references included herein arespecifically incorporated by reference in their entireties.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates only toexemplary embodiments of the present invention and that numerousmodifications or alterations may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit and the scope of the invention as set forth in thisdisclosure.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are providedherein, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Thereare numerous modifications or alterations that may suggest themselves tothose skilled in the art.

The present invention is further illustrated by way of the examplescontained herein, which are provided for clarity of understanding. Theexemplary embodiments should not to be construed in any way as imposinglimitations upon the scope thereof. On the contrary, it is to be clearlyunderstood that resort may be had to various other embodiments,modifications, and equivalents thereof which, after reading thedescription herein, may suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of the present invention and/or thescope of the appended claims.

EXAMPLES Methods Assay for Enzymatic Activity

Samples are appropriately diluted with Tris buffer (typically 5 or 10times) to 0.5-1 mg/ml, of which 10 μL are aliquoted into 1.5 mLeppendorf tubes. To each tube, 390 μL warm substrate buffer (usually 20mM oxalate in 20 mM citrate buffer, pH 4) is added and immediatelyplaced on a thermomixer for exactly 10 minutes, at which time 100 μL0.5M H₂SO₄ is added. Total formate produced is measured directly byHPLC. Using an ion exchange column (Aminex HPX-87H, BioRad) and anisocratic gradient of 20 mM H₂SO₄, formate is detected by UV at 210 nmwith peaks typically eluting at 14.3 minutes.

Stability Test

Incubation in Buffer at a pH of from about 2 to about 3

After incubation of OxDc free enzyme or the composition in questioncontaining the OxDc enzyme embedded in a polymeric material in 100 mMglycine buffer at a pH range from 2 to 3 for a certain period, theremaining OxDc activity was analyzed.

Incubation in Simulated Gastric Fluid

A particle composition containing from about 2 mg OxDc to about 20 mgOxDc was placed in a vessel containing 100 mL of simulated gastric fluidprepared according to USP, i.e. by dissolving 2 g NaCl, 3.2 g pepsin,and 7 mL concentrated HCl in a final volume of 1 L. At suitable timeintervals, a sample was drawn and assayed for OxDc activity as describedabove.

Incubation in Buffer

The same procedure as described above (for simulated gastric fluid).However, various buffer solutions were employed dependent on the pHvalue of interest. Suitable buffers include glycine buffers (pH 2-3),acetate buffers (pH 3-6), phosphate buffers (pH 5-8), borate buffers (pH8-9) and the like. A protease may be added such as, e.g., pepsin in aconcentration normally corresponding to the concentration found in theUSP simulated gastric fluid.

Example 1 Preparation of OxDC Alginate Microparticles and Influence ofVarious Process Parameters on the Stability

This example illustrates the preparation and stability of OxDc alginatemicroparticles and, furthermore, illustrates the influence of variousprocess parameters on the stability of OxDc embedded in themicroparticles.

Preparation of OxDc Alginate Microparticles MicroparticlesI—Emulsification 1:

11 ml of the mixture of alginate (1.8%, w/v) and OxDc (10:1, v/v; OxDc,20 mg/ml, in 10 mM TrisHCl, pH 3.9) in 50 mM citrate buffer, pH 3.9,were mixed with 20 ml mineral oil containing 0.5% triton x-100 bymagnetic stirring at 600 rpm for 10 min to reach stable emulsion state,then 4 ml CaCl₂ mineral oil emulsion (2 ml 0.2 M CaCl₂+2 ml mineral oil)was added and continued to stir for 30 min. 8 ml chitosan mineral oilemulsion (4 ml 0.8% chitosan and 4 ml mineral oil) was then added andstirred for another 30 min. Microparticles were collected bycentrifugation. In the following these microparticles are denotedMicroparticles I.

Microparticles II—Emulsification 2:

All the same as “Emulsification 1” except that the mixture of alginateand OxDc was in 10 mM TrisHCl buffer, pH 8. In the following thesemicroparticles are denoted Microparticles II.

Chitosan Coated OxDc Alginate Microparticles—Alginate Gelation atDifferent Concentrations (Emulsification) and Further Coating of theMicroparticles with Chitosan:

8 ml of alginate (1.2% or 3%; w/v) was mixed with 0.5 ml OxDc (16 mg/ml)in 50 mM TrisHCl buffer, pH 9, then mixed with 15 ml mineral oilcontaining 0.8% triton x-100 by magnetic stirring at 600 rpm for 10 minto reach stable emulsion state, then 8 ml CaCl₂ mineral oil emulsion (4ml 1 M CaCl₂+4 ml mineral oil) was added and continued to stir for 30min, then added 50 ml 1 M CaCl₂ under stirring. Microparticles werecollected by centrifugation and washed with water twice. Allmicroparticles (about 4 ml) were merged in the mixture of 36 ml 0.4%chitosan, pH 5.45 and 4 ml of 4 M CaCl₂ and shaken at 200 rpm for 1 h.In the following these microparticles are denoted as Chitosan coatedOxDc alginate microparticles.

All microparticles obtained in this example had a particle sizedistribution estimated to be in a range of about 1-100 μm.

The microparticles obtained were assayed for enzymatic activity asdescribed above. The total enzyme activity is the enzyme activity of theenzymes prior to embedding the enzymes in the polymeric matrix, and thisamount is set to 100%. The following results were obtained:

About 40% and 48% of the total enzyme activity was found in themicroparticles prepared at pH 3.9 (Microparticles I) and at pH 8(Microparticles II), respectively. The stability of the two kinds ofmicroparticles was tested at pH 3 with 3.2 mg/ml of pepsin.

About 42% and 60% of the total enzyme activity was found in the chitosancoated OxDc alginate microparticles prepared by 1.2% and 3% of alginate,respectively. The stability of the two kinds of chitosan coated OxDcalginate microparticles was tested at pH 3 with 3.2 mg/ml of pepsin(FIG. 2).

FIG. 1 is a graph of the stability of OxDc in the microparticles I(prepared at pH 3.9) and in the microparticles II (prepared at pH 8)under pH 3 with pepsin. Squares are microparticles I, triangles aremicroparticles II. FIG. 2 is a graph showing the effects of alginateconcentration for forming alginate microparticles on the stability ofOxDc in the chitosan coated OxDc alginate microparticles at pH 3 withpepsin. Squares are microparticles formed with 3% alginate, solidcircles are microparticles formed with 1.2% alginate.

Accordingly, the pH present during the preparation of the microparticlesseems to influence the stability of OxDc during incubation, i.e. anincrease in pH favors better stability and an increase in alginateconcentration also seems to have a positive impact on the stability.

Example 2 Preparation of OxDc Nanoparticles and Coating Thereof

This example illustrates the preparation of OxDc-containingnanoparticles and various coatings thereof.

OxDc Chitosan/Tripolyphosphate Nanoparticles:

40 ml 0.15% (w/v) of tripolyphosphate (TPP) containing 0.5 mg/ml OxDC,pH 8.1 (adjusted by HCl before adding OxDC) was dropped into 120 ml0.18% (w/v) chitosan in 0.13% (w/v) acetic acid, pH 3.92. Nanoparticleswere collected by centrifugation and washed with water twice. Thisprocess produced about 4 ml of nanoparticles suspension.

OxDc Chitosan/TPP Nanoparticles Coated with Alginate:

0.8 ml of the nanoparticle suspension was diluted in 10 ml water understirring, and then 5 ml of 1.2% alginate solution (in 25 mM TrisHClbuffer, pH 8.6) was added by dropping. The mixture was kept understirring for 5 min. The size of the coated nanoparticles increased to2-400 μm, with the majority around 30 μm (see FIG. 3), because ofaggregation of nanoparticles and crosslinking by alginate. Themicroparticles were collected by centrifugation at 3000 g for 3 min. Themicroparticles were washed with water twice and resuspended. In FIG. 3the volume statistics (Arithmetic) 17795s3_(—)07_(—)01.$1s. Calculationsfrom 0.040 μm to 2000 μm. Volume: 100%; Mean: 48.53 μm; Median: 29.10μm; Mean/Median ratio: 1.668; Mode: 28.70 μm; S.D.: 65.43 μm; C.V. 135%;Skewness: 4.384 Right skewed; Kurtosis 26.90 Leptokurtic; d₁₀ 8.814 μm;d₅₀ 29.10 μm; d₉₀ 109.9 μm.

OxDc Chitosan/TPP Nanoparticles Coated with Carrageenen:

0.8 ml of the nanoparticle suspension was diluted in 10 ml water understirring, then 5 ml of 0.5% carrageenen solution (natural pH 8.9) wasadded by dropping. The mixture was kept under stirring for 5 min. Thecoated nanoparticles should form microparticles and have a similardistribution as those coated with alginate (see above). Themicroparticles were collected by centrifugation and washed twice withwater, and resuspended.

OxDc Chitosan/TPP Microparticles Coated with Either Alginate orCarrageenen were Cross-Linked with Glutaraldehyde at DifferentConcentrations of Glutaraldehyde:

0.2 ml of the microparticle suspension was diluted in 0.8 ml water understirring, and then 2 ml of 0.15-7.5% glutaraldehyde solution (in 50 mMKPB, pH 7.5) was added and mixed. The mixture was kept under stirringfor 15-40 min and the microparticles were collected by centrifugationand washed twice with water.

Reduction of Glutaraldehyde Cross-Linked Alginate Coated OxDcChitosan/TPP Microparticles

Two different kinds of glutaraldehyde cross-linked alginate coated OxDcchitosan/TPP microparticles were prepared: one was cross-linked withoutaddition of CaCl₂ and the other with addition of 1.2 M CaCl₂ 10 minafter cross-linking reaction (1% of glutaraldehyde) started. After thecross-linking reaction ran for 1 h, microparticles were collected bycentrifugation and washed with water twice. The two kinds ofmicroparticles were further suspended in 100 mM of KPB, pH 7.5. Acertain amount of NaBH₄ powder was added to the suspension solutions tomake final concentration of 20 mM NaBH4 and kept in the dark and shakingfor 14 h.

The following results were obtained:

OxDc Chitosan/TPP Nanoparticles:

Nanoparticles were too small to be visually observed under the opticalmicroscope. OxDc was almost 100% trapped by the nanoparticles under thecurrent conditions. Under these conditions, OxDC was dissolved with TPPat high pH (8.6) and then dropped into a low pH (3.92) chitosansolution. The great preference of the enzyme dissolved in high pH overlow pH is a factor in maintaining the enzyme inside the nanoparticles atthe nanoparticle formation period. The stability of OxDc at pH 3.0 inthe OxDc chitosan/TPP nanoparticles was between that of microparticle Iand microparticle II from Example 1 and FIG. 1.

Alginate Coated OxDC Chitosan/TPP Microparticles:

The stability of OxDc at pH 3.0 was further improved when an alginatecoating was applied, compared to uncoated nanoparticles See FIG. 4,where squares are nanoparticles with no coating, closed circles aremicroparticles with alginate coating, and triangles are microparticleswith carrageenen coating.

Carrageenen Coated OxDc Chitosan/TPP Microparticles:

The stability of OxDC at pH 3.0 was further improved when a carrageenencoating was applied (compared to uncoated nanoparticles) FIG. 4

Alginate Coated OxDc Chitosan/TPP Microparticles Wherein the WholeParticle is Cross-Linked with Glutaraldehyde at Different Concentrationsof Glutaraldehyde:(Though not wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that theglutaralaldehyde cross-linking occurs mostly within the chitosanmolecule, linking chitosan molecules to itself and each other, and amongchitosan molecules and enzyme molecules.)

Alginate coated microparticles plus cross-linking showed higherstability at low pH than the nanoparticles without alginate coating.High level of cross-linking improved the OxDc stability inside thealginate coated microparticles at low pH (FIG. 5). The most stablemicroparticles can be submerged in a solution at pH 2.6 with pepsin for4 h without losing activity. The activity was about 30% after 3.5 hincubation at pH 2.4 with pepsin. See FIG. 5 which shows the effects ofglutaraldehyde concentration for cross-linking on the stability of OxDcin the glutaraldehyde cross-linked alginate coated OxDc chitosan/TPPmicroparticles at pH 2.4 with pepsin. The squares are 1% glutaraldehydewith no alginate coating, solid circles are 0.5% glutaraldehyde,triangles pointing up are 1% glutaraldehyde, and triangles pointing downare 2% glutaraldehyde, and diamonds are 5% glutaraldehyde.

Reduction of Glutaraldehyde Cross-Linked Alginate Coated OxDcChitosan/TPP Microparticles:

The stability of the glutaraldehyde cross-linked alginate coated OxDcchitosan/TPP microparticles under low pH after the reduction of Schiff'sdouble bounds was significantly improved. The glutaraldehydecross-linked alginate coated OxDc chitosan/TPP microparticles with CaCl₂addition during cross-linking lost 80% of OxDc activity after 120minutes whereas the microparticles without CaCl₂ addition under pHaround 2.0 lost 80% activity in a very short time. For details, see FIG.6 which is a graph that shows the stability of OxDc in two kinds ofcross-linked and reduced microparticles under pH 2.2 and 1.85, where thesquares are pH 2.2, with no Ca⁺², solid circles are pH 2.2 with theaddition of Ca⁺², triangles pointing up are pH 1.85 with no Ca⁺², andtriangles pointing down are pH. 1.85 with Ca⁺².

From the above series of experiments, the formulation of reducedglutaraldehyde cross-linked alginate coated OxDc chitosan/TPPmicroparticles was selected for further development.

Example 3 Experiments for In Vitro Testing of Removing Oxalate from FoodUnder Simulated Stomach Condition

In Vitro Testing of Reduced Glutaraldehyde Cross-Linked Alginate CoatedOxDc Chitosan/TPP Microparticles

10, 20 and 40 g of spinach was mixed with 12 ml of simulated stomachjuice (gastric fluid) (84 mM HCl with 3.2 mg/ml pepsin), respectively.Then water was added to make the final volumes of 40, 80 and 160 ml,respectively. After homogenizing the spinach, simulated gastric fluidand water, reduced glutaraldehyde cross-linked alginate coated OxDcchitosan/TPP microparticles were added to degrade the oxalate releasedfrom the spinach. The (dosage) ratio of spinach/microparticle is 200(200 g of spinach mixed with 1 g of microparticles) for all threeconditions. Spinach was selected for this experiment, because itcontains high amount of oxalate (about 200 mM of oxalate in the frozenspinach leaf).

Results and Discussion:

The amount of soluble oxalate is significantly influenced by pH. The pHvalues were 2.5, 3.5 and 4.2, for 10, 20 and 40 g of spinach conditions,respectively. The initial soluble oxalate concentrations were 30.0, 22.8and 14.7 mM, for 10, 20 and 40 g of spinach conditions, respectively(FIG. 7). If all oxalate is soluble, its concentration should be around48 mM. Thus, there was insoluble oxalate present under all threeconditions. FIG. 7 indicates that the initial soluble oxalate was almostcompletely removed in a few minutes. The remaining soluble oxalate didnot drop to 0, but remained at low level for a period, because insolubleoxalate started to dissolve when more soluble oxalate was removed. FIG.7 shows the bioavailability of oxalate (soluble portion) was quicklyreduced under all three conditions. The squares are 10 g of spinach with0.05 g of washed microparticles, diamonds are 20 g of spinach with 0.1 gof washed microparticles, triangles pointing up are 40 g of spinach with0.2 g of microparticles.

The OxDc microparticles kept removing more and more soluble oxalate(FIG. 8). After 1 h, almost all oxalate in spinach in the firstcondition (squares) and about 90% in the second condition (diamonds) wasremoved. For the third condition (triangles), only 50% oxalate wasremoved, but the soluble part was close to 0. Therefore, under all thethree conditions, absorption of oxalate can also be effectively limitedin GI tract, because the soluble oxalate concentration was very low andlarge part of oxalate was reduced. FIG. 8 is a graph of a timecourse oftotal soluble oxalate in spinach removed by microparticles in threedifferent simulated conditions. The total oxalate concentrations in eachof the spinach samples was about 50 mM. The squares are 10 g of spinachwith 0.05 g of microparticles, diamonds are 20 g of spinach with 0.1 gof microparticles, triangles pointing up are 40 g of spinach with 0.2 gof microparticles.

If using these results to simulate treatment in vivo, assume that aperson whose stomach contains 120 ml of gastric fluid is to beginingesting a total of 400 g of spinach. After ingestion of 100 g spinach,4 g of microparticles are taken. Almost all soluble oxalate will beremoved within 2 min. Although ingestion of the spinach continues until400 g is eaten, soluble oxalate is maintained below 3 mM during eatingand quickly reduces to 0 after eating.

Example 4 Formulated OxDC According to the Invention I. Preparation ofFormulated OxDC (Microparticles) and Testing its Stability at Low pH

Reduced glutaraldehyde cross-linked alginate coated OxDc chitosan/TPPmicroparticles are produced as follows:

-   -   1. OxDc chitosan/TPP nanoparticles formed by dropping        tripolyphosphate (TPP) solution into a mixture of chitosan and        OxDc.    -   2. Coating the above nanoparticles with alginate by addition of        alginate solution to above suspension. The nanoparticles formed        microparticles because of the aggregation of nanoparticles and        physical crosslinking by alginate occurred during this process.    -   3. Cross-linking of above microparticles by glutaraldehyde    -   4. Reduction of Schiff's base by NaBH₄        The preparation was made in accordance with the description in        Example 2.        Testing the stability of free or formulated OxDc at low pH:

After incubation of OxDc as free enzyme or in this microparticle in 100mM glycine buffer at a pH range from 2 to 3 for a certain period, theremained OxDc activity was analyzed. FIG. 9 is a graph showing thecross-linking with glutraldehyde (0.5-5%) improved the stability of OxDcin alginate coated chitosan/TPP microparticles at pH 2.4 and in thepresence of pepsin. The squares are 0% glutaraldehyde, solid circles are0.5% glutaraldehyde, triangles pointing up are 1% glutaraldehyde anddiamonds are 5% glutaraldehyde.

As shown in FIG. 9, the activity of the alginate coated OxDcchitosan/TPP microparticles without cross-linking (control) representedby the square points is completely destroyed in less than 15 minutes atpH of 2.4. In contrast cross-linking with 0.5-5% of glutraldehydestabilizes the enzyme activity of the alginate coated OxDc chitosan/TPPmicroparticles for up to 2 hours. Native (unformulated, free,non-embedded) OxDc is known to be irreversibly inactivated at pH<3.0.The stability of the glutaraldehyde crosslinked alginate coated OxDcchitosan/TPP microparticles was further improved after reduction of theSchiff's base in these microparticles (FIG. 10). FIG. 10 is a graphshowing th reduction by Schiff's base improved the stability of OxDc inthe glutaraldehyde cross-linked alginate coated OxDc chitosan/TTPmicroparticles at pH 2.2 and in the presence of pepsin (square points).The microparticles are inactivated rapidly at pH<2.0 (triangle points).

Reduced glutaraldehyde cross-linked alginate coated OxDc chitosan/TTPmicroparticles retain stability at pH as low as 2.2. This is asignificant improvement since the unformulated enzyme (free,non-embedded) is irreversibly inactivated at pH<3.0.

II. Studies on the Degradation of Oxalate by OxDc Microparticles A.Degradation of Oxalate (as Sodium Oxalate) in Low Concentration Range:

OxDc microparticles (prepared as described under I, Example 4 above)containing 2 or 20 mg of OxDc were mixed with 100 ml oxalate solutionwith concentration from 0.05 to 2 mM at pH 3 at 37° C. The generatedformate was measured during a period of time.

As shown in FIGS. 11 A and B, the reduced glutaraldehyde cross-linkedalginate coated OxDc chitosan/TTP microparticles can degrade oxalate atleast in the concentrations ranging from 0.05 mM to 2.0 mM.

0.05 mM to 2 mM oxalate concentration in the human stomach correspondsto a dietary intake of 5 mg to 180 mg of oxalate and an assumed stomachvolume of 1 L. The average daily intake of oxalate in the Western dietis reported to be 100-500 mg/day in all the meals. The intake can bemuch higher if some high oxalate foods like spinach are eaten.Degradation of oxalate in the range of 15 to 30 mM from spinach has alsobeen investigated and is described below.

FIGS. 11 A and B are graphs showing oxalate removed by reducedglutaraldehyde cross-linked alginate coated OxDc chitosan/TPPmicroparticles at pH 3. A, microparticles corresponding to 20 mg OxDc in100 ml oxalate solution; B, microparticles corresponding to 2 mg OxDc in100 ml oxalate solution. The squares are 0.05 mM oxalate concentration,solid circles are 0.2 mM oxalate concentration, triangles pointing upare 1.0 mM oxalate concentration, and triangles pointing down are 2.0 mMoxalate concentration.

20 mg of OxDc (estimated amount of enzyme protein in 1.0 ml of themicroparticle formulation) almost completely degraded 0.05 mM to 2 mMoxalate in 2 minutes.

Degradation of Spinach Oxalate in Simulated Gastric Conditions:

Mixing spinach with simulated gastric fluid: 10, 20 and 40 g of spinachwas mixed with 12 ml of simulated stomach juice (84 mM HCl with 3.2mg/ml pepsin) then water was added to make the final volumes of 40, 80and 160 ml, respectively.

Removing oxalate by OxDc: After homogenization of the spinach, gastricfluid and water suspensions, OxDc microparticles were added to degradeoxalate released from spinach. The (dosage) ratio of spinach/OxDc isapproximately 2000 (2000 g of spinach mixed with microparticles havingthe activity of 1 g of OxDc) for all three conditions.

Calculated total oxalate in all of the above preparations was 50 mM(spinach is reported to contain 18 g of total oxalate/kg). Due todifferent levels of buffering of the gastric fluid by the presence ofspinach, the final pH of three spinach suspensions was 2.5, 3.5 and 4.2,respectively. The pH of the medium is known to affect the availabilityof soluble oxalate and therefore the concentration of bioavailableoxalate in three preparations tested were 30 mM (square points), 22 mM(diamond points) and 15 mM (triangle points), respectively. (FIG. 12)

TABLE 1 Total oxalate Soluble oxalate Spinach Preparations pH conc conc10 g/40 ml gastric juice 2.5 50 mM 30 mM 20 g/80 ml gastric juice 3.5 50mM 22 mM 40 g/160 ml gastric juice 4.2 50 mM 15 mMFIG. 12A is a graph showing the bioavailability of oxalate (solublepart) which was quickly reduced under all three conditions; 12 B is agraph showing the percentage of total oxalate removed. The squares are10 g of spinach with an amount of microparticles equal to 5 mg of OxDc(by enzymatic activity); diamonds are 20 g of spinach with an amount ofmicroparticles equal to 10 mg of _OxDc, triangles pointing up are 40 gof spinach with an amount of microparticles equal to 20 mg of OxDc.

The microparticles with OxDc were capable of degrading a wide range ofoxalate concentration from 0.05 mM to 30 mM in simulated gastricconditions in pH ranging from 2.5 to 4.2 (see FIGS. 12 A and B) or in abuffer at pH 3 (FIGS. 11 A and B). From this set of experiments it canbe estimated that 20 mg of microparticles with OxDc (in 1.0 mlsuspension) can degrade 180 mg of oxalate within 30 minutes.

1-29. (canceled)
 30. An oral composition for degrading oxalate in thestomach, comprising an oxalate-degrading enzyme substantiallyhomogeneously distributed in a first polymeric material that ispermeable to oxalate, optionally provided with a coating of a secondpolymeric material that is permeable to oxalate.
 31. The compositionaccording to claim 30, wherein the first polymeric material is selectedfrom the group consisting of chitosan, alginate, pectin, and hyaluronicacid.
 32. The composition according to claim 30, wherein the optionalcoating is present.
 33. The composition according to claim 32, whereinthe second polymeric material is selected from the group consisting ofchitosan, alginate, pectin, and hyaluronic acid.
 34. The compositionaccording to claim 32, wherein the first polymeric material iscross-linked to itself, the second polymeric material is cross-linked toitself, the first and second polymeric materials are cross-linked toeach other, the first polymeric material is cross-linked to theoxalate-degrading enzyme, and/or the second polymeric material iscross-linked to the oxalate-degrading enzyme.
 35. The compositionaccording to claim 34, wherein the cross-linking comprises physicalcross-linking.
 36. The composition according to claim 34, wherein thecross-linking comprises chemical cross-linking using a chemicalcross-linking agent.
 37. The composition according to claim 36, whereinthe chemical cross-linking agent is selected from the group consistingof dialdehyde, 1-ethyl-3[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide (EDC),disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS) and (N-[p-maleimidophenyl]isocyanate(PMPI).
 38. The composition according to claim 36, wherein reduciblebonds between the chemical cross-linking agent and oxalate-degradingenzyme and/or first polymeric material and/or second polymeric materialhave been reduced by a reducing agent.
 39. The composition according toclaim 38, wherein the reducing agent is selected from the groupconsisting of NaBH₄ and NaCNBH₃.
 40. The composition according to claim30, wherein the composition consists of particles having a diameter offrom 50 nm to 1 mm.
 41. The composition according to claim 30, whereinfirst and, if present, second, polymeric material constitutes from 10%to 80% of the total dry material of the composition.
 42. The compositionaccording to claim 30, wherein the oxalate-degrading enzyme is selectedfrom the group consisting of oxalate decarboxylase, oxalate oxidase,oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase, formyl-CoA transferase, and combinationsthereof.
 43. The composition according to claim 30, wherein theoxalate-degrading enzyme is oxalate decarboxylase.
 44. The compositionaccording to claim 30, further comprising one or more additives selectedfrom the group consisting of pH adjusting agents, buffering agents,solubilizing agents, stabilizers, preservatives, enzyme cofactors, andpharmaceutically acceptable excipients.
 45. The composition according toclaim 30, in a solid dosage form or powder form.
 46. A method fordegrading oxalate in the stomach of a human or animal, comprising orallyadministering to said human or animal a composition according to claim30.
 47. A method for the treatment or prevention of an oxalate-relatedcondition in a subject, comprising orally administering to the subject acomposition according to claim 30, wherein said composition is effectiveto degrade oxalate in the stomach of the subject.
 48. The methodaccording to claim 47, wherein the subject is suffering fromhyperoxaluria.
 49. The method according to claim 47, wherein the subjectis suffering from hyperoxaluria selected from the group consisting ofabsorptive hyperoxaluria, enteric hyperoxaluria, and primaryhyperoxaluria.
 50. The method according to claim 47, wherein the subjectis suffering from an oxalate-related condition selected from the groupconsisting of urolithiasis, vulvodynia, end-stage renal disease, cardiacconductance disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease,ulcerative colitis.
 51. The method according to claim 47, wherein thesubject has undergone gastrointestinal surgery or bariatric surgery. 52.The method according to claim 47, wherein the subject has undergoneantibiotic treatment.